FromtheHeart
Thispastyearhasremindedusof somethingpowerful:mentalwellnessdoes nothappeninisolation.
Itgrowswhenneighborslookoutforone another,whenschoolsandorganizations cometogether,andwhenacommunity choosestocare.
Thankstoyou,MentalHealthFauquierhasbeenabletocreatespacesof connectionandsupportwherepeopleknowtheymatter.Becauseofyour commitment,morethan5,000communitymembersarepreparedtorecognizethe signsofcrisisandrespondwithcompassion.Ourschoolsarebetterequippedto nurturethementalhealthofouryouth.Localorganizationscontinuetounite, sharingknowledge,resources,andhope Families,veterans,andfaithcommunities arefindingnewpathwaystosupportmentalwellnessandbelonging.
Everystoryofresiliencebeginswithsomeonewhocaresenoughtoact andyour investmentmakesthosestoriespossible.Inthesepages,you’llfindanexamplesof livestouchedandstrengthenedthrougheducation,advocacy,andcollaboration. Youwillseebraveindividualswhospokeupandsharedtheirownpersonal journeystohelpbreakdownstigmaandspreadhope.
Aswelookahead,weknowtheneedforconnectioncontinuestogrow.Butwealso knowthepowerofthiscommunity.Together,wecanensurethateverypersonin FauquierandRappahannockfeelssupported,valued,andneveralone.
Toourdonors,volunteers,partners,andneighbors:thankyouforwalkingalongside us.Weinviteyoutokeepbuildingthisvisionwithus byjoiningatraining,sharing yourtime,orsimplyopeningaconversationaboutmentalhealth.
Withdeepgratitude,
ReneeNorden ExecutiveDirector
OurStory
Establishedin1964,theMentalHealthAssociationof FauquierCounty(MHAFC)isagrassroots,nonprofit, advocacy,andactiongroupthatworkstoincrease mentalhealthresourcesinourcommunity.Weprovide support,education,andhopetothosewhomaybe strugglingwithmentalhealthconcernsorgaining accesstocare.WeareanaffiliateofMentalHealth America.
MISSION:Topromoteandfacilitatementalwellnessinthe communitiesweserve,primarilyinFauquierCountyand RappahannockCountyinVirginia
VISION:Tohelpcreateacaringcommunitywhere everyoneisabletoliveahealthyandfulfillinglife.
BoardofDirectors
Karen Flikeid, President
Dona Rodgers, Vice President
Dr. Katrina White, Secretary
Jessica Ashby, Treasurer
William Ashwell
Yolanda Murcier-Belton
Lt. Col. Chad Brubaker
Staff
Cassin Bertke
Dr Diana Chalmeta
Rev. Vini Holland
Rick Laimbeer
Jeremy Noel
Amber Montgomery
Joy Willey
Renee Norden, Executive Director
Bridget Downey, Programs and Events Manager
Christine Craddock, Outreach and Communications Manager
BuildingHelpersandHope throughEducation
Spiritual First Aid and Mental Health First Aid trainings provide individuals with the knowledge and confidence to support those experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. By offering monthly sessions for youth- and adult-serving professionals, we are expanding the network of trusted helpers in our community.
With assistance from staff at Encompass Community Supports, we taught 17 Mental Health First Aid classes in 2024. The story on the next page reveals how this class impacted a community member deeply. To sign up for a mental health first aid class, go to fauquier-mha.org/events.
5798
community members trained!
The 2025 Spiritual First Aid Spring cohort graduated in May. The Fall cohort began in August and will graduate in November.
We offered monthly Lunch & Learns addressing grief, anxiety, trauma, parenting, emotional regulation, nutrition and mood, and more topics to address the needs of our community.
Spiritual Care in Disaster
Taking Charge of Your Life
Healthy Boundaries/Relationships
Horticultural Therapy
Assertive Communication
Restorative Yoga
Positive Childhood Experiences
Back-to-School Anxiety
Beat Burnout
Children and Grief
Suicide Prevention Training
Peer Support in Recovery
A friend had experienced a serious fall. Prior to his fall, this person walked several times daily with his beloved dog and was an active member of our community. We are a small close-knit group of friends and a few of us could see a steady decline.
One afternoon, I returned home from running errands and saw my friend’s son He explained that his dad had met him in the driveway in his wheelchair, very agitated and said he wasn’t going to go to any more appointments.
He told his son not to follow him and began moving down the street along his old walking route. I immediately felt something was terribly wrong and I suggested calling 9-1-1 This was not typical behavior
My son and I took off to find him but as I hurried along, I kept thinking about what I’d learned in class. A-L-G-E-E, the 5-step action plan for providing mental health first aid kept running through my head. I told myself that I needed to approach calmly, listen without judgement, and give support and encouragement.
As I turned the corner, I saw him about a block away. He looked exhausted. We listened as he explained that he felt he was out of options. I asked him if he had a plan to harm himself. He answered yes. I asked if it would be okay if we called some mental health professionals who could help find options; and, although he felt they’d have no real answers for him, he agreed to try.
We called 988 and helped get the conversation started. We told him we’d stay right there with him and that we loved him and wanted to help him. I held his hand and my son put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Not long after, police officers arrived and began quietly talking and listening. Soon, the rescue squad and my friend’s family arrived. They had no idea he meant to do harm to himself.
In the weeks that have passed, this is still so surreal to me. In hindsight, I can see the decline in his physical health and can recall things he said that I now know were indicators of deepening depression. I simply wouldn’t have known how to handle this mental health crisis without the training I received.
This training allowed me to trust my instinct that something wasn’t right and react quickly; find my friend, and then use the strategies I learned in Mental Health First Aid training. Although my friend passed away peacefully not long after, he was surrounded by a family grateful to have the gift of additional days with him.
ConnectingtoCare
Seeking professional support is an important step for mental health, but we know it can feel overwhelming to find the right therapist. We’re here to make that process easier and walk alongside you as you take that step. Our guides list local providers, as well as information about their specialities, insurances accepted, ages served, and contact information to make it one step easier to reach out.
Go to fauquier-mha org - hover over Resources at the top and click on Find a Provider This page is consistently ranked in the top 5 most viewed on our website.
ResourcesforIndividuals ImpactedbySuicide
Accepts my insurance
Offers in person therapy
Located near me
Treats children and adults
Specializes in what we need
In 2022, after examining data from Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, we recognized a need for a resource to help families coping with the death of a loved one from suicide. Through a combined effort from Dona Rodgers, founder of Morgan’s Message and a board member, Mental Health Fauquier, funeral home directors, financial planners, attorneys, and first responders, this guide was printed and distributed.
In 2025, the guide was redesigned and the information updated for accuracy We are grateful for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative for funding the new print.
While our sincere hope is that no family ever needs this resource, we created it to help support families through this most difficult time.
The guide is downloadable from our website or available in print. It has been distributed to first responders in Fauquier and Rappahannock
TheStoriesWeCarry
We believe advocacy is about being honest and authentic. This year, we approached community members and asked them to share their mental health struggles and strategies for maintaining mental wellness. When individuals speak openly about their own journeys, they help us raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help create a culture of compassion and shared experiences.
We feel that each story shared is a powerful act of advocacy, reminding others they are not alone, and inspiring hope that you can heal and recover Read these stories on our blog
Ibelievehealinghappensin relationship withourselves,with others,andwiththedeeperlayersof ourstory
AliCaudill
Wearemadetohealandlivea beautifullifeevenifyouhavesome bumpsintheroad.Healthisabadge ofhonorIgladlywearandwillhelp thosetoputtheirbadgeonaswell
Changeispossible.Healingis possible.Andthriving yes, eventhat ispossible,too.”
JoelleFryman
Sometimesittakes somethinggreater thanyourselfto makeyourealize thatyoudon'tneed tostruggleby yourselfandthat youaren'talone.
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Yourgenerositymakesadifferenceand everygiftisdeeplyappreciated.
Visitfauquier-mha.orgormailchecksto: P.O.Box3549
Warrenton,VA20186
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*Thislistreflectsgiftsof$150ormoreoverthelast12months. Wehavetakengreatcaretoensuretheaccuracyofthislistanddeeplyregretanyerrorsoromissions