Hope in Action: Virginia’s Commitment to Mental Health Care
As a mental health advocate and a proud Virginian, I have come to realize that not many people know about the Right Help, Right Now initiative and the impact it has had across our state. I take great pride in honoring the work of anyone who contributes to the betterment of mental health in Virginia. Today, I want to take a moment to recognize and honor the leadership of Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears for her dedication to this cause.
Today I had the privilege of speaking briefly with Lt. Governor Earle-Sears at a political rally in Rockingham County. It was an honor to thank her personally for her leadership on the Right Help, Right Now initiative, a transformational behavioral health plan for Virginians that she championed alongside Governor Glenn Youngkin.
As someone whose life has been transformed through accessible and compassionate mental health care, I believe deeply that mental health does not wear a political jersey. Healing, recovery, and access to care should unite us, not divide us. I am open to meeting with anyone, from any background or political party, to share my story and the lessons I have learned along the way.
My own framework for recovery is built on what I call the Four Pillars Model: psychiatry, therapy, family, and faith. These pillars have helped me find balance, structure, and accountability in my ongoing healing journey. Similarly, the Right Help, Right Now plan is built upon six pillars, each representing a cornerstone of Virginia’s commitment to behavioral health reform and community wellness.
The Right Help, Right Now Initiative
Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now: A Transformational Behavioral Health Plan for Virginians ensures that individuals can receive immediate behavioral health support before, during, and after a crisis. By expanding 988, deploying mobile crisis units, and creating crisis receiving centers, the initiative strengthens care for children, adults, and families. It also reduces strain on emergency departments, supports law enforcement, and advances substance use disorder treatment, positioning Virginia as a national leader in behavioral health reform.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Lt. Governor Earle-Sears reflected on the impact of this work, writing:
“Virginia’s Right Help, Right Now initiative has been a beacon of hope for those in need. By enhancing crisis response systems, we’ve ensured that every Virginian has someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go during challenging times.”
Her words capture what so many of us who have lived through crisis understand at a personal level. When you are in pain, what you need most is connection, compassion, and a clear path toward safety.
She continued in the same post:
“Through dedicated teamwork, community collaboration, and transformative legislation, we’ve made incredible strides toward building a comprehensive continuum of care that delivers timely, life-saving mental health support.”
That statement embodies what I believe public service should look like: people in power working with their communities, not apart from them.
The Six Pillars of Behavioral Health Transformation
Ensure same-day care for behavioral health crises
Support law enforcement and reduce behavioral health criminalization
Expand system capacity, emphasizing community-based services
Strengthen support for substance use disorders and overdose prevention
Prioritize the behavioral health workforce, especially in underserved areas
Innovate services and close gaps in prevention, crisis care, and recovery
Each pillar represents a foundation of hope for Virginians, much like the Four Pillars that have guided my own recovery. When I look at this initiative, I see not only government reform but human restoration.
A Shared Vision for Mental Health in Virginia
Lt. Governor Earle-Sears’ commitment to mental health reform is clear and courageous. She concluded her post with this call to action:
“But our work isn’t done yet. Together, we’re to continuing this journey to ensure that every Virginian has access to the mental health care they deserve.”
I am grateful for that spirit of perseverance. Change does not happen overnight, and progress requires not only funding and policy but human will, the shared belief that every person’s life has worth and potential.
Across the political spectrum, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has also spoken about the importance of strengthening Virginia’s behavioral and mental health systems. Her approach emphasizes access, affordability, and caregiver support, which are crucial aspects of long-term wellness. While she has not yet aligned herself with a specific statewide initiative such as Right Help, Right Now, her campaign situates mental health within a broader healthcare and community access framework that also deserves recognition.
My path has not crossed with Congresswoman Spanberger in the same way it did today with Lt. Governor Earle-Sears, and I want to be clear about one thing. Political jerseys do not apply to mental health advocacy. I will always be mindful to work in a bipartisan way, because healing and access to care are universal needs. I will absolutely highlight and support the mental health advocacy of any candidate, regardless of party or policy. Today, however, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears deserves that recognition for her courage in addressing mental health directly and leading these conversations publicly.
I hope that regardless of whether our current Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears or Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is elected to serve, both will recognize and build upon the meaningful groundwork that has already been laid. Mental health care should not be a partisan conversation; it should be a human one. I find hope in the fact that both sides are talking about it, that we are no longer silent about suffering, stigma, and the need for systems that heal instead of punish.
A Personal Reflection
As someone who has navigated mental illness, hospitalizations, and the long road of recovery, I can say with conviction that policies like Right Help, Right Now change lives. My success story is living proof that with the right combination of medical treatment, therapy, family involvement, and faith, stability and growth are possible.
When I spoke with Lt. Governor Earle-Sears, what struck me most was not politics, but empathy. She listened. She understood that mental health is not an abstract issue; it is real lives, real families, real pain, and real hope.
This initiative mirrors that truth through its six systemic pillars. It does not just aim to build more programs; it aims to build bridges between crisis and recovery, between institutions and individuals, and between government and community.
Leadership with Heart
In an era where political division often overshadows compassion, I find it deeply encouraging to see leaders like Lt. Governor Earle-Sears speak publicly about mental health with both strength and humility. She has brought visibility to an issue that for too long has remained hidden in silence and shame.
Her leadership reminds me that real transformation begins when empathy meets action. When we give people “someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go,” we build not only safer communities but a more humane society.
And as she said, “Our work isn’t done yet.” That is true for all of us, as citizens, advocates, and neighbors. Each of us can play a part in this ongoing movement toward compassion, accessibility, and reform.
The Road Ahead
I left that rally reminded that advocacy starts with conversation. It grows when people with lived experience and those in leadership meet in the middle, when testimony meets policy and when pain meets purpose.
My Four Pillars Model — psychiatry, therapy, family, and faith — aligns beautifully with Virginia’s six pillars of behavioral health transformation. Together, they represent a shared vision: to care for the whole person, body and mind, in both private and public life.
I hope that future administrations, regardless of political affiliation, continue to expand this work and ensure that every Virginian has access to timely, compassionate, and life-saving behavioral health care.
Learn more about the initiative here:
