Virginia’s oldest mental health advocacy organization
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.
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
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...
Crisis Services Plan Seeing Results
But Forensic Patients Filling State Hospitals Virginia’s mental health crisis services system has itself been in crisis for years,...
A Call for Art – for our Recovery Art Auction!
Artwork: Potomac View by Kristen Obadal Personal expression through art sustains recovery and fosters resilience. We are accepting...
Jails Can’t Solve the Mental Health Crisis
We are somewhat encouraged by recent attention to the disconnect between individuals with serious mental illness and local jails. 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
2024 Victory for Mental Health
Tickets are available now for our annual advocacy award dinner on Thursday evening, September 19th.
New location this year! – The beautiful Virginia Museum of History & Culture on Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond.
Record numbers of Virginians are experiencing serious mental health challenges, yet there are many victories, small and large, and it’s important to celebrate the victories.
For seven years our Victory for Mental Health event has brought people together to:
- Recognize mental health advocacy champions
- Celebrate artists and the power of art to nurture recovery
- Elevate the success of our peer support services, and
- Grow our capacity to make a difference for more people.
And stay tuned for the online recovery art auction Sept. 5th – 19th!
Sponsorships are still available. Please join us!
(Re)STORE: Retreat
Saturday, October 5 – Monday, October 7
Montpelier, VA
Trauma-informed Training and Recovery Support for Virginia Crime and/or Trauma Survivors
(Re)STORE uses Peer Recovery Specialists to facilitate trauma-informed training and recovery support for crime or trauma survivors anywhere in Virginia. The (Re)STORE: Retreat concludes an interactive program of wellness and resilience topics to facilitate ongoing recovery by using a strengths-based approach to empower individuals toward self-advocacy.
2024 Mental Health Voter Guide
With mental health care on the ballot in 2024, it’s more important than ever for the mental community to be involved in this year’s election. MHA’s 2024 Voter Guide is here to empower you to vote with mental health in mind.
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.