Coastal Virginia offers many opportunities to promote good physical health. Now there’s an event to promote good mental health as well. On Sept. 9, anyone who has been touched by depression or suicide is invited to gather at Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach for Hampton Roads Morning of Hope, aiming to raise awareness of depression as a treatable disease and of suicide as a preventable tragedy.
The informative and moving program will include a welcome from Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms; WAVY-TV 10 anchor Tom Schaad as emcee; several speakers with personal stories about their experience with depression or suicide, as well as senior military officers who will deliver a message to our military. There will be 20 clinically licensed counselors there to support and answer questions. Guests can partake in a complimentary breakfast and coffee, and afterward, there will be a picnic and Ben Phelps Band, along with complimentary Rita’s Italian Ice.
Those who have lost a loved one to suicide can remember them by wearing a colored ribbon as an armband, putting the picture of a loved one up on the Memory Wall or having the name of their loved one read during the program.
Hampton Roads Morning of Hope is locally sponsored by the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group, Inc. The event is held Saturday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at Mt. Trashmore, Virginia Beach. Visit HamptonRoadsSOS-Hope.org to learn more.
