September 2021

Recovery Art Auction Begins 09/09
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Auction proceeds benefit MHAV’s services, including the free statewide Warm Line for peer support, and the individual artists. 
"Have you ever felt the pull of another person?" by David Robatin
Peaceful Lion by Kim MaKonnen
Modello by Sara Clark
Many thanks to our sponsors:

Gold
Janssen

Silver
Aetna Better Health of Virginia
Anthem Healthkeepers Plus

Recovery Art Sponsors
Good Neighbor Homes
James Bentley Treatment Program
NAMI Virginia
Pavilion at Williamsburg Place
Virginia Association of Community Services Boards

Recovery and Resiliency through Art

With the pandemic’s dramatic impact on the mental health of our population, Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) is featuring an on-line silent auction of Recovery Art. The act of creating paintings and other works can help to sustain recovery and healing or to stay mentally healthy.

We encourage you to show your support for mental health by bidding on your favorite pieces. 
 
Featuring over 100 works from a variety of both emerging and established artists, the Victory for Mental Health auction runs from September 9th through September 23rd.

Many works reflect the feelings experienced during the challenges of the past year. Visit the site here to take a look:
MHAV Recovery Art Auction                                                  .
moonlit beach by Sarah Vasile
Advocacy Award Press Conference 09/23

The auction concludes with our annual Mental Health Advocacy Award – broadcast live on Facebook at Noon on September 23rd.

Celebrate a victory for mental health with our presentation to Sen. Jennifer McClellan and Del. Jeff Bourne, who sponsored legislation to give defendants living with a mental illness due process in criminal trials. Please register here

To learn more, see our earlier blog, https://mhav.org/a-major-victory-in-decriminalizing-mental-illness/

To sign up for event reminders, please register here.
Good News from Legislative Special Session
Last month Virginia approved allocating $485 million from the new American Rescue Act (ARPA) funds to help address the crisis in Virginia’s behavioral health crisis services. Included in the comprehensive package are emergency staff bonuses and retention for our state hospitals, many of which have been closed to new admissions due to staff shortages.

The new funds will also begin addressing the lack of a continuum of mental health support in communities across the state, which is the only long term solution to the current crisis in our system of care.
 
These investments are a major boost, but they are only a start. It will take bold action in the next legislative session to continue addressing decades of underfunding community mental health services.

Calls for Investment in Community Support and Crisis Services

MHAV teamed with other stakeholders for a press conference on July 27th to bring public attention to the need for community crisis and support services to address capacity limits of state hospitals.

The event was led by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, as local law enforcement and first responders see up close the impacts of a mental health crisis on individuals and their loved ones.

Other speakers represented the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards and the Virginia Municipal League, with all participants calling on policy makers to invest federal and state funds in building full continuums of care in local communities. You can see the video here: https://www.facebook.com/vachiefs/videos/551656309298300
2021 MHA Back to School ToolKit!
Student mental health must be a priority this school year.

MHA’s 2021 Back to School toolkit, “Facing Fears, Supporting Students,” aims to help students, parents, and school personnel recognize how feeling unsafe can impact mental health and school performance, and what can be done to help young people who are struggling with their mental health.

If you are a parent, teacher, or school personnel, download the MHA Back to School Toolkit today. It includes tools and resources designed to help you support your child's mental health. Learn more now: https://www.mhanational.org/back-school

FACT SHEETS

WORKSHEETS
Suicide Prevention Month
     
 September is National Suicide Prevention Month and it provides a time to discuss and educate on suicide prevention.  

Psych Hub has created an evidence-based Suicide Prevention Playlist on the their YouTube Channel to help you or someone in need learn more about suicide prevention, ways to cope with depression, and suicide prevention treatments. Suicide Prevention Toolkit has videos, guides, resources, and evidence-based information

 
What Happened to You:
Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

by: Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry

 BeWellVA https://bewellva.com/ is hosting a free virtual book discussion featuring Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry’s book, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing on September 30, 2021 from 11:30am-1:00pm.

BeWellVA is a collaboration of the seven local Community Services Boards in central Virginia. It’s mission is to bring awareness to the increasing number of deaths by suicide and promote wellness for life, focusing on the groundbreaking shift in how we approach trauma discussed in the book.
Our On-Demand Webinars
Spotlight Series Part 3: Self-Empowerment

Unleash your potential by taking your self-empowerment skills to the next level. Deepen your sense of self-awareness, and foster compassionate, authentic connections with yourself and others. Learn how to take initiative and seek out opportunities to continuously learn, grow and evolve.

Format: This recorded Zoom webinar is free of charge and open to all.
Topics include: Self-awareness, self-compassion, mindfulness, motivation, goal setting
Facilitators: Heather Fossen, CPRS and Kevin Kelly, CPRS

Peer Into Recovery Podcast
Peer Into Recovery is a podcast offering unique insights into the profession of peer support, brought to you by the Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist Network and Mental Health America of Virginia.

Check it out the latest episodes here:
Want support in figuring things out? 

Call the Virginia COPES Warm Line
(877) 349-6428
Thank you for supporting Mental Health America of Virginia.
With your help, we are one step closer to achieving mental health for all Virginians.
Upcoming Events

September 9 - 23, 2021
2021 Victory for Mental Health Celebration
Let's Connect