Nov. 8--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.

But she was surprised last year to learn how few resources there are for area residents with mental illnesses. In the area, there were 34 psychiatric beds.

She learned that the current crisis stabilization unit -- which operates on Princess Anne Street until Nov. 17 -- provided a home-like environment for people who needed help but not a hospital.

But the six-bed center was often full, said John Butler, head of the crisis stabilization center.

Buffett met with Ron Branscome, RACSB director, in February 2008. They talked about expanding the center, and Branscome came back a month later with plans. The RACSB's contractors broke ground on the new house in March.

Architects, contractors and designers worked on the house. But Butler planned many details.

With just 15 days to get someone back on their feet, he said, crisis staff needs every advantage. And the house helps, Butler said.

Everything in the house is meant to aid in recovery from the colorful artwork -- some of which was painted by former patients -- to the sleek furniture, stainless-steel appliances and soothing color schemes.

"We need to make a connection immediately with the individuals who come in," Butler said. "And part of that is the welcoming atmosphere."

In the shiny kitchen, on the wall above the fridge, vinyl letters say, "May all who enter as guests, leave as friends."

That phrase embodies the center's philosophy, said John Tetrick, assistant commissioner for the state's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

"Anybody that comes here is going to leave as the friend of somebody else," he said. "I hope this takes seed in the community, because in the times we are in, nobody shares the load by themselves."

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973

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