Be Well-RVA Project - The proposed Be Well-RVA Project by the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) will be delivered to adults in Richmond, VA with many components stretching beyond city limits. Services will target persons at-risk of suicide or who have attempted suicide, with specialized services for victims of domestic violence and persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Richmond is a diverse community of 223,787 residents, identifying as 47.8% African-American, 45.4% White, 2.1% Asian, 3.3% two or more races, and 7.1% Hispanic/Latino. Among Richmond households with children under age 18, the median household income is $39,540; half the state average. Of those households, 50% received public assistance in the last year, and 40% were at or below the federal poverty level. The city is also host to high levels of behavioral health issues. Data indicate a full 40% of Richmond residents report having poor mental health compared to 29% statewide. The city has also been affected, like many other areas, by the opioid epidemic. The past six years has seen an increase in fentanyl-related overdoses from 50 in 2012 to 813 in 2018.
The Be Well-RVA Project will implement a coordinated response to the emerging issues of suicide and related behavioral health and domestic violence situations. The main purpose of the project is to prevent suicide and suicide attempts through a collaborative effort including: Direct clinical/supportive services as a rapid response and ongoing care; community/staff education and training on suicide prevention and other related topics; working across systems to implement suicide prevention efforts; community recovery supports for individuals and their families; and supports specifically for those experiencing domestic violence.
The Be Well-RVA Project will serve 100 individuals over the 16 months.
