Lakeview Center is celebrating a major milestone in mental health care for Northwest Florida: more than 7,500 screenings completed since opening its Central Receiving Facility (CRF)—and the two‑year anniversary of both the CRF and Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) on the organization’s main campus in Pensacola.
Opened in April 2024, the CRF and CSU were designed to improve how adults experiencing mental health crises are cared for under the Baker Act, Florida’s mental health law (Florida Statute 394.451–394.47891). Together, the facilities provide a coordinated, compassionate response for individuals in crisis, while easing strain on law enforcement, emergency departments and the broader healthcare system.
“The opening of our Central Receiving Facility and Crisis Stabilization Unit was a pivotal moment for behavioral health care in our region,” said Shawn Salamida, president of Lakeview Center. “Reaching 7,500 screenings in just two years reflects both the growing need for crisis services and our team’s unwavering commitment to ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Lakeview Center serves as the adult Central Receiving Facility for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. This means that individuals in a mental health crisis come to Lakeview Center’s downtown Pensacola campus for a Baker Act or Marchman Act screening. Behavioral health professionals conduct timely screenings to determine the most appropriate next step in care, including partnering with local hospitals or connecting to one of Lakeview Center’s 60+ programs across Northwest Florida.
As a critical complement to the CRF, Lakeview Center also opened a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in April 2024, expanding inpatient capacity—particularly for uninsured individuals—and strengthening the continuum of care from crisis intervention through stabilization and recovery.
Over the past two years, Lakeview Center’s CRF and CSU have played a vital role in improving outcomes for individuals in crisis and supporting community partners, including law enforcement agencies and hospital systems.
As Lakeview Center marks this two‑year milestone, the organization remains committed to expanding access, enhancing quality of care and continuing to serve as a trusted resource for individuals and families navigating mental health crises.
For more information about addiction or mental health treatment, call 850-469-3500 or visit eLakeviewCenter.org.
About Lakeview Center
Lakeview Center is Northwest Florida’s most comprehensive behavioral health care provider, with more than 60 programs ranging from outpatient counseling and psychiatry to residential treatments for substance misuse, plus 24/7 crisis support. Specialized team members help adults and children experiencing mental illnesses and drug and alcohol dependencies, offering a continuum of care with solutions personalized for each person’s needs. Faced with a rising need for mental health and substance misuse treatment, Lakeview Center is here to serve, growing with the community since 1954. Learn more at eLakeviewCenter.org.
