Behavioral health care provider Brightli completed its merger with Nashville, Tennessee-based Centerstone today. More than 10,000 team members across the nation are celebrating, and signs on the former Brightli administrative campus in Springfield now read “Centerstone.”

The combined organization will serve about 250,000 people annually, and Centerstone will be the largest nonprofit provider of mental health and substance use disorder care across the United States. Centerstone CEO David Guth, Jr. says the completion stage helps Centerstone team members put aside the “maybe” aspects of the merger and move forward with a mission to make behavioral health care more accessible and more powerful than it has ever been.

“These are two very well-known, well-respected organizations in our space,” Guth said. “We still feel that we’ve been under-scaled for the opportunities that sit in front of behavioral health today.”

Dr. C.J. Davis is the CEO-elect of Centerstone. The former CEO of Brightli will become Centerstone CEO upon Guth’s planned retirement in 2027.

“What makes this merger historic isn’t just the scale; it’s the opportunity to reach more people, invest in innovation and ensure no one faces behavioral health challenges alone,” Davis said. “Together, we are building a future where access, quality and compassion define behavioral health care in this country.”

Centerstone has more than 360 outpatient, inpatient and residential locations across nine U.S. states. It has clinical staff serving the mental health needs of students in more than 1,500 K-12 schools across the nation and maintains a nationwide network of more than 2,000 clinical providers to meet the needs of veterans and military families. 

Davis stresses there will be no disruption to patient care resulting from the merger. Over the next 14 months, Brightli subsidiaries Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Places for People, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Adult & Child Health, Clarity Healthcare and Comprehensive Mental Health Systems will rebrand and start doing business under the Centerstone name.

“The service, that personal touch that local administration over local care will remain unchanged,” Davis said. “Providing care that’s convenient has to be the central focus of our partnership. Our clients need convenience; they need seamless, coordinated care.  Addressing the access challenges will be important.”

About Centerstone
Centerstone is the largest nonprofit behavioral health organization in the United States. With more than 10,000 team members working at 360 locations in communities across the country, Centerstone provides healing and hope to people of all ages through mental health services, addiction care and social supports. Centerstone is a leader in operations for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Centerstone’s Military Services offers specialized care nationwide for veterans and the military community. Centerstone’s Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best evidence-based practices for use across its communities. Centerstone’s Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes lives. Learn more at Centerstone.org. 

For more information or to arrange an interview, please reach out to mediainquiries@centerstone.org.