Another Day Walk for Suicide Prevention
September 7th 2019 @ Old Mill Park, Downtown Fredericksburg.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in kids and teens ages 10 to 19 in the United States. Join Mental Health America of Fredericksburg and the Another Day campaign in raising awareness about suicide in our community and supporting Suicide Prevention Education at our local schools.
Thank you for making the 2019 Walk for Mental Wellness a success!
Thanks to everyone who made the 2019 Walk for Mental Wellness a success.
We are so grateful to all of our Sponsors, Fundraisers, Walkers, Committee, and Volunteers who made Saturday, May 4th such a great day!
We reached our goal of One Million Steps for Mental Wellnesswith almost 250 walkers!
Together we raised over $50,000 with over $23,000 from Walk sponsors and the remaining from registrations, fundraising by individuals and teams, and the silent auction and raffle.
We have lots of photos from the Walk on our Facebook page. Click here to take a look.
Mental Health America of Fredericksburg exists to improve the lives of people in their mental health and well-being, through education, support and advocacy.
It is only through the support and generosity of this community that we are able to “Change Minds” and “Change Lives.” It is an honor to be a part of a community that cares about one another and comes together to improve lives.
Because of you, we are able to provide companionship to over 100 seniors who are lonely and isolated through our Senior Visitors volunteer program.
Because of you, we are able to connect people with appropriate and available mental health resources through our HelpLine program.
Your generosity provides support groups to teens who struggle with depression, and adults who are seeking mental wellness.
Because of you, we are able to provide suicide prevention education to local teens and teach them how to identify the signs and symptoms of depression and suicide in themselves and others – and more importantly – what to do about it – through our Suicide Prevention Education program.
Your support makes it possible for us to provide advocacy by joining other organizations to address important mental health issues in this community.
Because of your generosity, we are able to fulfill our mission of “Changing Minds and Changing Lives”.
Our annual Yoga in the Park event is coming up on June 1. Join with us, register, checkout the details at mhafred.org/yoga
#GivingTuesday November 27, 2018
Black Friday. Cyber Monday.
#GivingTuesday
We have two days for getting deals – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On #GivingTuesday, we have a day for giving back. Together, people are creating a new ritual for our annual calendar. #GivingTuesday is the opening day of the giving season. Everyone has something to give.
Your generosity will make it possible for us to provide the following mental wellness programs to our community at no cost to them. 100% of your donation, large or small, will help provide these services to those in need right here in the Greater Fredericksburg Area.
Starting Tuesday, November 27 at 8:00 am EST, when you donate to MHAF through our Facebook fundraiser page, your donation may be matched by Facebook and PayPal’s Fundraiser Matching campaign.*
*Facebook and PayPal will start matching donations at 8:00am ET (5:00am PT) on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. The matching offer will expire when $7 million in donations (in total to non-profit fundraiser pages on Facebook) is reached or at 11:59pm PT on November 27.
Don’t have a Facebook account but would like to give?
Spread the word by following our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and sharing our #GivingTuesday posts.
MHAF Healing Grove – Ribbon Cutting
Please join us for a ribbon cutting on Friday, November 2 at 4:30 PM. Free and open to all.
Mental Health America of Fredericksburg Healing Grove in Memorial(Kenmore) Park at Kenmore Avenue and Monroe Street in Fredericksburg, VA
May You Find Solace and Peace in this Healing Grove.
The Mental Health America of Fredericksburg Healing Grove exists to give people a place to go (in nature) to find peace, solace, and healing.
A Little Background
Mental Health America of Fredericksburg (MHAF) has been offering suicide prevention education to Fredericksburg area teens since 2014.
We use a curriculum call SOS (Signs of Suicide). In the 2017 – 2018 school year, we presented to almost 4000 teens (7th and 9th grade students) to teach them how to identify the signs and symptoms of depression and suicide – and more importantly – what to do about it.
Three people (Amy Jones, Christina Ferber and August Donahue) have organized “The Another Day Campaign for Suicide Prevention” and put on the Another Day Walk to support the MHAF Suicide Prevention Education (SPE) program.
100 % of the funds they raise stay here in this community to provide SPE to our teens!
The Another Day Team decided that they wanted to do more than just raise funds – they wanted to raise suicide awareness, and offer hope and healing – and the idea of the Healing Grove was born!
People Involved
- August Donahue came up with the idea following the 2017 Another Day Walk.
- Christina Ferber wrote the proposal to the City of Fredericksburg.
- Tree Fredericksburg (Anne and Carl Little) designed the Healing Grove and selected trees that symbolize healing.
- Jane Shelhorse and Mike Ward of the City of Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Department worked with us to find a location and get the proposal approved.
- Jerry and Donna Ulman (Ulman Jewelers) donated the funds for the park bench that people will be able to use (when they go to the park) to find peace and solace.
- Walter Bouchard donated the funds for the first of eight trees.
- Carol Westphall, a retired mental health professional, is donating her time to offer nature based mindfulness programing.
- The City Parks, Recreation and Events department is working with us to handle the registration process for people who want to attend the Nature Based Mindfulness programming.
Suicide Prevention Week
September 9 – September 15. Suicide Prevention Week
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.
Know the Warning Signs
Some warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these, seek help by calling the Lifeline.
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Extreme mood swings
Please support an organization that helps with suicide prevention. Mental Health America of Fredericksburg has an active suicide prevention program. You make a difference.