Health Update: New Health Department plan will seek to improve Alexandria’s mental wellness – What Experts Say

Improving mental health across the city will be in focus in Alexandria’s next Community Health Improvement Plan.

Mental wellness is one of three topics that will be addressed in the city’s new CHIP, AHD announced last week. The topic was selected for further engagement after 47% of 2,020 respondents in the city’s 2025 Community Health Assessment survey selected “mental health” as their top health issue.

“Access to mental health and substance use services” also appeared in survey respondents’ top three desired health improvements.

The CHIP’s two other focus areas will zero in on health in the Landmark/Van Dorn and Arlandria neighborhoods. Each focus area has a dedicated community coalition including residents, organizations and “others who work, pray or play in Alexandria” that will “brainstorm actions to drive change.”

The mental wellness coalition’s vision statement envisions “a community where everyone can feel safe, connected, and supported, because mental health and wellness are prioritized, accessible, and part of everyday life.”

One in five Alexandria adults have depression, and 47.6% of 10th and 12th grade respondents to a 2023 Alexandria City Public Schools survey reported problems with anxiety, according to AHD.

Rates of anxiety, depression and attempted suicide are also significantly elevated among ACPS eighth graders who identify as LGBTQIA+ when compared to their peers, the survey shows.

A document shared by AHD includes the coalition’s potential focus areas and ideas for mental health improvement, which includes the following topics, which are available to vote on in a community poll.

• Promote culturally appropriate mental wellness services
• Reduce access barriers for services and care (cost, availability)
• Coordinate and co-locate care in community spaces
• Strengthen community connections, support systems, and belonging
• Expand school-based mental wellness services
• Expand early intervention and screening for child and youth mental health
• Provide family-focused supports and resources
• Meet basic needs to reduce stress
• Create or expand green spaces that promote activity and community engagement
• Strengthen trauma-informed crisis response capabilities among first responders
• Reduce opioid overdose
• Normalize open conversations about mental health and recovery
• Promote mental wellness services and supports for the LGBTQIA+ community
• Improve economic security for older adults
• Create a dementia friendly community (community awareness, supporting individuals)
• Support caregivers of older adults
• Create safer spaces for vulnerable communities (unhoused, immigrants)
• Address community safety for youth
• Improve crisis and serious mental illness services

Each coalition is welcome to residents and community members. No application or formal process is required.

The mental wellness coalition’s next meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Del Pepper Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive).

Meanwhile, the coalition for Landmark/Van Dorn recently finalized neighborhood boundaries and a 2030 vision statement. Its next meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue).

The Arlandria coalition, which intends to host meetings primarily in Spanish, is currently working “to identify the best times and settings for meetings,” according to AHD.