Mental Health Awareness Month
Summary
Mental Health Awareness Month is an annual proclamation topic before the City of Fairfax City Council, observed each May. On May 13, 2025, the Mayor presented a proclamation acknowledging May as Mental Health Awareness Month and May 7, 2025 as National Children's Mental Health Day; recipients included the city's Crisis Resources Team (CRT), the Fairfax County Community Service Board, and the Heart Leaf Center. On April 28, 2026, the Council again took up the matter, with Mayor Catherine S. Reed proclaiming May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Fairfax; the proclamation was presented to Lesley Abashian (Human Services Director), the city's Crisis Response Team, and Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck. The 2026 proclamation called upon residents to advocate for accessible mental health care services for people of all ages, framing mental health as an essential pillar of overall health and well-being and noting that loneliness and social isolation are recognized public health concerns.
Recent updates
[3c] May was proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Fairfax.
[3b] Proclamation presented by the Mayor to the city's Crisis Resources Team (CRT), Fairfax County Community Service Board, and the Heart Leaf Center.
What members have said
At the April 28, 2026 meeting, Mayor Reed delivered the proclamation text, calling upon the community to cultivate a culture of compassion and to advocate for greater understanding and more resources for mental health awareness, prevention, and treatment. She personally introduced the CRT team and Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck from the dais, stating that mental health is part of basic health and is something 'we should all be focused on.'
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
- May 13, 2025City Council · item 3b
[3b] Proclamation presented by the Mayor to the city's Crisis Resources Team (CRT), Fairfax County Community Service Board, and the Heart Leaf Center.
- Apr 28, 2026City Council · item 3c
[3c] May was proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Fairfax.