Do you have questions about mental health needs and available resources in Virginia? Are you looking for ways to get involved in protecting access to services amid federal funding uncertainty?
The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition — a network of organizations in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties focused on improving mental health and substance use outcomes — is hosting a virtual town hall on mental health on May 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The town hall, titled “Investing in Wellness: A Community Dialogue on Mental Health,” will include two parts. The first is a panel discussion featuring State Sen. Creigh Deeds; Jennifer Faison, executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards; Lori Wood, senior director at Region Ten; and Lisa Beitz, executive director of Region Ten, according to the news release.
The event is part of the coalition’s Mental Health Awareness Month programming, but it is also a response to recent developments, said Paige DiPirro, Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition coordinator.
“The mental health landscape is changing a lot as a result of the federal funding cuts that have hit various sectors in behavioral health service delivery. So that was our first motivation — just having a release valve to have an honest conversation with folks working in mental health,” said DiPirro.
Another goal is to address an increasing number of requests from community members who want to get involved.
“We noticed that a lot of people were reaching out to us over the last two months, looking for opportunities for mobilization,” DiPirro said. For instance, when I.C.E. crackdowns started, a lot of people wanted to know how they could protect community members or make sure they have access to the mental health services they needed, she said.
After the panel, there will be an open Q&A session where attendees can ask questions and share ideas and concerns.
Take Action
Looking to learn more about mental health resources in your community or how to advocate for better access to care in uncertain times? The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, a network of organizations working to improve mental health and substance use outcomes in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson, is hosting a virtual town hall on May 22.
The Virtual Town Hall titled “Investing in Wellness: A Community Dialogue on Mental Health,” will take place on Wednesday, May 21, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature a panel of local and state leaders and an open Q&A. The event is free to attend. Register here and find more information here.
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