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New psychiatric crisis center ready to welcome new patients Date published: 11/8/2009
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
At first glance, the house appears unremarkable: just another beautiful and inviting Fredericksburg home. The cheerful white rocking chairs and a state-of-the-art grill on the porches seem to beckon guests inside. In fact, every detail of the house has been designed specifically to welcome visitors. Those guests should start filling the 10 bedrooms in little more than a week. The Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness and Recovery is set to open Nov. 16. The area's new crisis stabilization center just held two open houses this week. About 70 people attended Thursday night's celebration honoring Doris Buffett, the Fredericksburg philanthropist who paid for the house. Buffett gave $2 million to the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board to expand its center for people in the middle of a psychiatric crisis. The money will also provide long-term housing for adults with mental illness. Construction on that long-term housing is now under way on Lafayette Boulevard and will provide apartments for eight people with serious mental illnesses. Thursday night, guests mingled over appetizers and desserts while touring the spacious, 12-bed crisis stabilization center. Soon, patients will walk through the doors to receive up to 15 days of treatment: 24-hour supervision, art therapy, group sessions, counseling and more. Many parents of adults with mental illnesses choked back tears at the grand opening. The house represents a safe place where their children could recover from crises. It also embodies a move toward public awareness, said David Vaughn, president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness--Rappahannock. Buffett contributed the money toward building the home, Geico furnished a therapy room and civic groups, business associations and other area residents chipped in to furnish the rest of the house. For decades, the parents watched their children suffer in silence, wary of telling people about their mental illnesses. And the parents hid their own heartache. But as Buffett took Virginia First Lady Anne Holton on a tour and crowds wandered in and out of the rooms, Vaughn said, "All of this, in time, will help reduce the stigma." Buffett said she was long aware of the issues surrounding mental illness, as there was "a considerable amount" in her own family.
Date published: 11/8/2009
Your comment was incredibly rude. Do you think people chose to have a mental illess? With proper treatment many can lead normal lives. You could learn a thing or two about compassion from Ms. Buffet. Thank you Ms. Buffet for helping make this community a better place.
The mentally ill already roam our streets. The fact that you don't notice is a tribute to the mental health services already available in this area.
now we dont have to travel to DC to see the mentally ill out roaming the streets.
Mental health care in this country is abysmal, and in this area,
nearly impossible. Thank you, Ms. Buffet, for helping improve
things here, and taking this step in the right direction. You
have helped so many families with this project!
Thank you Ms. Buffet, you are an angel. You have been forever kind and caring. You inspire of us all.
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