The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) community outreach team continues to engage with new community members on issues surrounding chronic disease management. 

“If we aren’t doing anything for these kids, then coming to the barbershop and talking is a waste of time.”

People from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have experienced symptoms of mental illnesses or disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ The Richmond Highway area of Alexandria, which represents one of the most ethnically and economically diverse areas of Fairfax,² has limited mental health community-based services.  

In observance of May as Mental Health Month, the Fairfax County Health Department held weekly community conversations highlighting important mental health topics each Wednesday in May.

“We wanted to begin some conversations with our community and to spotlight important issues and resources,” said Lucy Caldwell, Communications Director at the Fairfax County Health Department, and facilitator of the Mental Health Month Facebook Live conversations.

“There is no health without mental health”