May Is Mental Health Awareness Month 

Published on May 15, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn are causing many people to experience depression, anxiety, stress and isolation, among other challenges.

"One in five people will experience a mental illness at some point during their lifetime," said Dr. John Palmieri, Behavioral Healthcare Division Chief for Arlington County. "Because many people are facing mental health challenges now, we want to raise awareness of the many resources Arlington offers to help people manage mental health issues under these challenging circumstances."

• Arlington's COVID-19 Mental Wellness page offers numerous health and wellness resources to help residents through the pandemic.


• Arlington's Mental Health Programs and Services division provides assistance to adults with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Bilingual staff are available and all services are strictly confidential.

Census Numbers Help Fund Mental Health Services

People with mental illness are often undercounted in the Census. Census data are used by federal, state and local governments to make funding decisions that support a variety of community services. In Arlington, a portion of those funds go toward resources for people with mental illness, including programs that support mental health care, medical services, housing, education and transportation.

In this video, Daniel H. Gillison, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, talks about the importance of the census for people with mental health conditions.

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The U.S. Census counts every resident in the nation, including here in Arlington County. As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, America gets just one chance each decade to count its population. The collected data help to determine things like the number of seats Virginia has in the House of Representatives, and how to distribute federal funds to local communities like ours. Take the Census here.