Virginia’s oldest mental health advocacy organization
Getting through the elections, Thanksgiving and beyond.
Holiday gatherings create anxiety for many, even those not struggling with their mental health. Add this election season to the mix, and the stress can be overwhelming.
What We Do
Advocacy
We advocate for a better mental health system and public understanding that mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health.
- Increase public awareness, decrease stigma and keep mental health issues on the forefront of policy and legislative agendas.
- Educate policy makers about the barriers preventing people from receiving the help they need, and identify solutions.
Peer Run Warm Line
Free, anonymous and confidential
866-400-6428
Call, text or chat
Virginia’s Peer-Run Warm Line and other resources for wellness and recovery. Not a crisis hotline, the warm line helps keep people out of crisis. Staff listen nonjudgmentally, and can help identify coping strategies, resources and support for your mental health well-being.
Recovery Education
For individuals who have experienced challenges with trauma, mental health or addiction, our programs incorporate recovery principles, encourage self-empowerment and model peer support practices. Programs include peer facilitated webinars and in-person trainings.
Probation Peer Support
Our Peer Support Wellness program is completely free and voluntary. Once referred, with your permission, one of our Peer Support Specialists will reach out to you to get started.
Latest News
A Message for Leaders
Election season, the holidays and life in general can create a lot of emotions for everyone. Especially during this time, it is important for leaders to be aware and to help reduce collective stress and anxiety for their teams, both personally and professionally. If you’re a public leader, a business leader, or the head of your household, here are some tips to help keep anxiety and stress at bay for yourself and the people you lead.
Resources to Empower Young Minds
New materials to empower young minds and their mental health are now available in English and Spanish!
Announcing the 2024 Mental Health Advocacy Champion Awardees!
Awards are presented at our annual Victory for Mental Health advocacy award dinner on Thursday evening, September 19th.MHV presents...
Virginia Ranks 12th in 2024 State of Mental Health in America Report
Mental Health America (MHA) has released its annual State of Mental Health in America report, which ranks all 50 states and the...
Making a Difference
“Being able to talk to you is like a magic wand. I feel so much better having talked to you and have someone just listen to me.“
“The opportunity to use what was learned to advocate for mental health“
“That I could relate to what she was going through, non-judgmental and supportive. “
Current Initiatives
Supporting Young Minds
Today’s youth are facing unprecedented challenges to their mental well-being, and supportive adults can make a significant difference in a young person’s mental health journey.
Mental Health America’s 2024 Supporting Young Minds Guides have been created to empower parents, caregivers, teachers, and others to provide support by fostering nonjudgmental environments where young people feel safe expressing themselves. In them, you will find information about facilitating conversations and validating feelings, creating safe spaces and supportive culture in the classroom, and ways to promote peer support. We’ve also created resources to help young people support one another and feel empowered to set and achieve goals.