“Mental Health Virginia” – We’ve shortened our name, but not our mission.
There’s a lot going on this May for Mental Health Month, starting with our name.
Mental Health America of Virginia is now Mental Health Virginia. Changing our name to be more concise will bring more clarity for who we are and who we serve.
This rebrand provides our 87-year-old organization momentum, brevity, and longevity needed to provide our services for the next 100 years to all Virginia residents.
We remain the state affiliate of Mental Health America, and we are still proudly backed by the reputation, resource information and credibility of the national organization.
We’ve developed a new logo and website to support our name change. The new logo serves to create distinction for the commonwealth we serve while still aligning with Mental Health America. Keeping the bell icon in our logo ties us back to our history and the mental health symbol of hope.
Our services have not changed – recovery and resilience trainings, the statewide warm line, Peer Recovery Specialist resources, public outreach and policy advocacy. You can find more information throughout the website. mentalhealthvirginia.org
And our peer support services are still free and confidential. The statewide warm line for mental health peer support continues to be open 7 days a week with extended hours, a bilingual operator, and text support. And with a live chat function coming soon!
Mental Health Month emphasizes the need for these services to help address Virginia’s mental health gaps. Mental Health America first introduced “Mental Health Month” in 1949, and in 1953 Virginia’s Eastern State Hospital provided some of the shackles and chains melted down to form the mental health Bell of Hope – the symbol of Mental Health America referenced in our own logo.
This year’s theme for Mental Health Month is “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World.” In the 2024 Mental Health Month toolkit, you can find free resources to help you navigate difficult times, from building up your coping toolbox to advocating for improved mental health in your community. Go to mhanational.org/may to learn more.
Finally, if you’re in the central Virginia area, please join us for Take a Break for Mental Health in the park on Saturday, May 18th. Food, games, screen printing and more from 11:00 to 2:00 at the Harry Daniel Park at Ironbridge, Shelter #2, 6600 Whitepine Rd. in Chesterfield, 23237.
Please consider an investment in mental health by supporting our services. You can help Mental Health Virginia reach more people with the message that mental health is part of everyone’s health – during May and throughout the year. Thank you –
[ A very special thanks to Red Orange Studios, who awarded us their 2023 PIP grant to guide our rebranding efforts, with support from their partners Journey Seven, Feedback Productions and Rian Hunter Productions.]
