May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May 7th is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
While Virginians cannot celebrate and promote Mental Health Awareness Month and Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day like they normally would with public events and campaign flyers, that does not mean that the need to improve awareness, reduce stigma and celebrate the accomplishments of our friends and loved ones with mental illness should pass us by.
The following organizations across Virginia are working hard to continue to spread the message that Mental Health is important and during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the need for awareness and supports will be even more important to Virginians.
Buildings in Hampton Roads lit up Green for Mental Health Awareness Month:
|
Chesapeake Municipal Center |
Chrysler Museum |
|
|
Hyatt House |
Clark Nexsen Building |
List of CSB events for Mental Health Awareness!
- To see the list go here. (this list will be updated as new information is available)
Have your city or locality issue a Proclamation for Mental Health Awareness!
- A template proclamation is here
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS):
- Governor Ralph Northam has issued a proclamation recognizing May 2020 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Virginia – Find that here
- DBHDS will be posting Mental Health messages each day on Twitter – follow along here (Scroll down to the bottom right side to find Twitter)
- For Children’s MH Awareness Day – May 7th
VOICES for Virginia’s Children:
NAMI – VA:
- In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI-VA is providing the following services. As well, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, NAMI-VA is pleased to offer these services online.
- Family and Youth Mental Health Virtual Leadership Summit: register here
- Online Support Groups for Adults: here
- Online groups for parents of children and youth: here
- Online programs for youth and young adults: here
Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV):
- MHAV will be sharing materials and resources from Mental Health America on its website: here
- You can find Mental Health America’s Mental Health Awareness Campaign here
VOCAL:
- VOCAL holds its annual conference in May each year to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month. The conference has changed to a virtual event. Go here for more information.
- VOCAL has virtual events throughout May including a webinar for National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day. VOCAL Virtual Events
- To continue to provide Peer Support trainings, VOCAL hopes to provide digital peer support trainings soon. Peer Support will be more important than ever during these trying times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.