Our Annual Event
Victory for Mental Health
2024 Victory for Mental Health Success!
Thank you to everyone who attended or supported our 2024 Advocacy Award Dinner on Sept. 19.
We had a great crowd, and a wonderful response to the award recipients: Ashley Harrell, Cristy Corbin and Senator Creigh Deeds. All of them inspire us to continue the work for mental health.
In 2024, there were three awards, all representing lived experience in action.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
State Senator Creigh Deeds, for over 10 years of inspirational leadership in transforming Virginia’s behavioral health system.
SYSTEM INSIDER:
Ashley Harrell, LCSW, Behavioral Health Senior Advisor for Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services at the Department of Medical Assistance Services, for her advocacy within the system to recognize the value of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, and to double the Medicaid rate for their services.
PEER ALLSTAR:
Cristy Corbin, CPRS, HFW-FSP, President of Family Support Partners of Virginia, for her leadership in establishing family peer support as a recognized recovery model for Virginia families.
See the pics below, and the inspiring ovation for Ashley Harrell, who despite serious health challenges was able to participate via zoom from home with her family.
Special Guests Carla and Nick Pappas shared from their personal recovery journeys through poetry. Their book, Poets and Peers, is available at: https://www.poetsandpeers.com/
Images from 2024 Victory for Mental Health
We Appreciate our Event Sponsors!
Previous Mental Health Advocate Champions
Previous Recipients
2023
William Bland, a Virginia Beach high school student athlete who challenged the stigmas around the mental health needs of student athletes, and inspired a culture of openness and support throughout the school system.
2022
Jennifer Feist, Corey Feist, and Sen. Tim Kaine for passage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, national legislation to address the mental health needs of health care workers. Jennifer Feist’s sister, Lorna Breen, MD, was a New York City emergency physician from Charlottesville who died by suicide after exhaustion caring for COVID-19 patients.
2021
State Senator Jennifer McClellan and Del. Jeff Bourne, who sponsored major bills changing Virginia court rules to allow evidence of severe mental illness to be introduced during the trial stage, not just at sentencing.
2019
Alex Moreno, Choetsow Tenzin, and Lucas Johnson, Albemarle County High School students who lost friends to mental illness and led the legislative efforts to require mental health instruction in Virginia high schools.
2018
Gray O’Dwyer, a Richmond law student at the time, who led efforts to remove the mental health question from the state bar exam. The application had been a barrier to students seeking mental health counseling.
Images from 2023 Event
Watch Senator Kaine’s Remarks
Images from Previous Years
