Mental Health Awareness Month
Summary
Mental Health Awareness Month is an annual proclamation item before the Fairfax City Council, recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month and highlighting local mental health resources and organizations. In May 2025, Mayor presented a proclamation acknowledging both Mental Health Awareness Month and May 7, 2025 as National Children's Mental Health Day, presented to the city's Crisis Resources Team (CRT), the Fairfax County Community Service Board, and the Heart Leaf Center. In April 2026, the Council again recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month; Mayor Catherine S. Reed presented the proclamation to Human Services Director Lesley Abashian, the City's Crisis Response Team, and Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck. The proclamation calls on residents and institutions to advocate for accessible mental health care services for people of all ages, emphasizing fighting stigma, increasing awareness, and connecting individuals to available resources.
What members have said
At the April 28, 2026 meeting, Mayor Reed read the proclamation declaring May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month, stating that the community 'must cultivate a culture of compassion' across businesses, schools, government agencies, healthcare providers, and civic organizations, and calling upon residents to advocate for greater understanding and more resources for mental health awareness, prevention, and treatment. She also noted that 'mental health is part of our basic health' when introducing the proclamation recipients.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
[3b] Proclamation presented by the Mayor to the city's Crisis Resources Team (CRT), Fairfax County Community Service Board, and the Heart Leaf Center.
[3c] May was proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Fairfax.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.