Content Warning: Mentions of suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide accounted for 1,196 deaths across Virginia in 2024. September is Suicide Prevention Month, marking an important time to highlight the Virginia nonprofits working diligently to provide critical mental health support across the state.
Here, we bring attention to five organizations providing tailored mental health and suicide prevention resources to a variety of demographics – from children to veterans – across the commonwealth.
Ruyts Foundation of Veteran Suicide Prevention
Located in Fredericksburg and founded by Jessica Ruyts, the Ruyts Foundation of Veteran Suicide Prevention works to raise awareness of and prevent military suicide. The nonprofit offers various programs and assistance to veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
Its programs include support groups, counseling services, food support, homelessness prevention, emergency assistance and crisis intervention. The foundation also assists with funding for medical appointments, prescriptions and transportation to lower financial barriers to mental health care.
To learn more or donate, visit its website or Facebook page.
Vocal Virginia
Based in Richmond, Vocal Virginia advocates for universal access to quality mental health care. It is the only statewide mental health organization in Virginia fully staffed and governed by individuals living with mental health conditions. The nonprofit’s work is rooted in three core pillars:
- Advocate with Experience: Vocal Virginia works within the mental health community to drive system and policy change to improve and protect mental health and wellness.
- Educate with Empathy: The organization provides training, education and support services for mental health peers and peer specialists to help them better serve the needs of their community.
- Collaborate with Care: It works to create opportunities for partnerships and growth by building relationships between struggling individuals and peer groups in the mental health community.
Vocal Virginia offers various training options throughout the year for individuals, peers and the community to learn more about mental health and how to support those struggling.
To learn more or donate, visit the organization’s website or Facebook page.
Richmond Relief Foundation
The Richmond Relief Foundation is another organization dedicated to protecting and restoring community mental well-being. Its mission is to aid individuals navigating mental illness and suicidal ideation while emphasizing the urgent need for accessible mental health care.
Recognizing health insurance often fails to adequately cover the cost of comprehensive mental health care, the foundation raises funds online to support research and provide free peer-to-peer support. With more than 54,000 adults in the Richmond area going untreated for mental health conditions, the nonprofit acts as a critical lifeline – currently staying connected to more than 400 individuals awaiting care.
To learn more or donate, visit the RRF website.
ConnerStrong Foundation
Tom and Mindi Worosz founded the Alexandria-based ConnerStrong Foundation in 2017, one year after losing their son, Conner, to suicide. The organization focuses on raising awareness about youth mental health, removing the stigma surrounding mental illness and preventing teen suicide.
As a partner of the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia and a sponsor of the Sources of Strength evidence-based suicide prevention program, the foundation works collaboratively across the mental health sector. Through these partnerships, ConnerStrong expands community outreach, helps build supportive networks and increases awareness of suicide prevention resources across Virginia. To date, the foundation has funded 13 Sources of Strength programs in middle and high schools and plans to expand the initiative into elementary schools.
Alongside its school-based programming, ConnerStrong provides free educational resources on mental health and suicide prevention for teens, parents and educators.
To learn more or donate, visit the ConnerStrong Foundation’s website or Facebook page.
Free2Talk
Founded by University of Virginia student William Mount, Free2Talk is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health of Virginia children and teens ages 6 to 19.
Mount started Free2Talk after therapy helped him navigate mental health challenges, as well as a stutter, during his youth. Recognizing financial barriers prevent many families from receiving similar care, he launched the nonprofit to lower those hurdles.
Free2Talk connects families struggling with the cost of care to a statewide network of providers. Through partner clinicians and supporter donations, the organization provides access to reduced-cost therapy – covering up to 80% of treatment costs over 16 sessions for qualifying patients.
To learn more or donate, visit its website.
