Voices, along with NAMI-Virginia and our sponsoring partners, had a fantastic gubernatorial candidate forum on mental health in Richmond on August 5th at Collegiate School.

A crowd of 450 people turned out at Collegiate School to hear Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe answer our questions, covering a wide range of topics from early childhood mental health to Medicaid expansion to housing for those with mental illness. Many thanks to all of you who attended. We hope that you, like we, feel better informed about what each candidate would do regarding mental health if elected.

Thanks also to our co-organizers, NAMI Virginia, and all the sponsoring organizations. Special thanks to Collegiate School for hosting us. It was a great show of support and interest from citizens on the topic of mental health.

Be sure to see some of the statewide (even nationwide) coverage we’ve seen of the event:

Newspaper:

The Free Lance Star ran a good preview article.

The Washington Post article quotes parent advocate Cristy Gallagher.

The AP story ran in many outlets, including NBC4 in Washington, the Staunton News Leader and throughout the country.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch covered the story with two reporters and a photographer.

Television:

Charlottesville’s NBC29 station teased the event including an interview with Peggy Sinclair-Morris.

WTVR 6’s story includes great video of the theater so you can see the crowd!

NBC12’s story includes footage of the candidates after the event.

Radio:

WCVE’s story was heard this morning in the Richmond area.

Thanks again to all who attended the forum and all our partner organizations who helped sponsor it. For more photos from the event please visit our Facebook gallery.

American Academy of Pediatrics – Virginia Chapter
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Virginia Chapter
Brain Injury Association of America
Campaign for Children’s Mental Health
CHIP of Virginia & Parents as Teachers State Office
Collegiate School
DisAbility Law Center of Virginia
FACES of Virginia Families
Legislative Coalition of Virginia Nurses
Mental Health America of Virginia
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia
National Association of Social Workers – Virginia Chapter
Psychiatric Society of Virginia
Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance
Virginia Association of Community Services Boards
Virginia Association of Infant Mental Health
Virginia Association of School Nurses
Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
Virginia College of Emergency Physicians
Virginia Counselors Association
Virginia Network of Private Providers
Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership
Voices for Virginia’s Children
Virginia Sheriff’s Institute
Virginia Association of Area Associations on Aging
Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
Virginia Coalition of Private Provider Associations

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