Valdosta, GA- Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Commissioner Frank Berry announced on Monday that a new Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC)will soon be under construction in Lowndes County. The center will have 24 permanent beds and 6 “temporary observation beds,” at an approximate annual investment of $5 million.

In total, DBHDD plans to invest more than $17.5 million annually in expanded infrastructure and services throughout Region Four for Georgians who live with mental health challenges. Region Four encompasses all of south central and southwest Georgia.

New and expanded services will include BHCCs, Crisis Stabilization Units, Intensive Case Management Teams and Mobile Crisis teams. The Lowndes County BHCC and others in Region Four will become emergency receiving facilities for law enforcement to drop off individuals who require mental health services.