See information about each of our conferences to date below.
2022 Shape of the Region
Finding our Way Back to Mental Health: Designing a more accessible, equitable system in Northern Virginia
On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Community Foundation presented its report Finding our Way Back to Mental Health at the annual Shape of the Region Conference. This conference highlighted the complex barriers to basic mental health service- therapy, helpful medications, early interventions, as well as others. Over 300 people attended, about half in person, and half online, from a near complete cross section of civil society- government workers, nonprofit and foundation employees, social changemakers, private sector businesses, and representatives from state, local, and national government offices. The conference featured multiple panels of national and local experts for candid discussions of the challenges of accessing basic mental health services in Northern Virginia, and what innovative ideas and opportunities may exist to address this critical issue that impacts us all.
The discussion of the unique challenges for access to mental health presents a massive opportunity, and a stark warning: whilst 750,000 adults in Northern Virginia have mental health needs, 370,000 who want therapy or counselling are unable to get it.
In the words of Regina James M.D, our keynote speaker, “Getting to mental health is like finding a monument in an old city on winding, diverging roads- the destination may be obvious, but getting there is not.”
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