Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) are the primary point of entry into the Commonwealth’s public behavioral health and developmental services system. CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is a CSB that serves every county and city in the state.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment locator
How to Get Help for Mental Health Concerns
Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) are the primary point of entry into the Commonwealth’s public behavioral health and developmental services system. CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can also visit the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website to find other resources near you.
Virginia’s Mental Health Laws
Information about Virginia law governing behavioral health and developmental services can be found in Section 37.2 of the Code of Virginia. Section 37.2 includes statutes governing the emergency custody, temporary detention and involuntary commitment to treatment of individuals in mental health crisis.
Suicide Prevention
Talk To Someone Now
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline is available 24/7 across the United States. It is available for everyone, free, and confidential.
Call or Text 988 or visit 988va.org.
Each Community Services Board (CSB) has 24-hour emergency services. Find your nearest CSB.
Resources
Lock and Talk promotes limiting lethal means for someone who is suicidal and encouraging them to talk about suicide. This program provides educational materials about suicide and free safety/restriction devices for guns and medications.
Zero Suicide is a planning, training, and treatment model for suicide prevention in health and behavioral health systems. Zero Suicide takes a system-wide approach to improve outcomes, close gaps, and transform how patients are screened and the care they receive.
Trainings
Virginia’s Community Service Boards offer several trainings to help clinics, schools, and community groups assist someone who is at risk of suicide. These trainings range from one-hour sessions to intensive, multiple-day interactive trainings.
Trainings provide information about warning signs and steps to how to help someone who is having thoughts of suicide.
Suicide Warning Signs
It is important to know the warning signs of suicide. The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk of suicide.
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
What Can I Do To Help a Family Member or Friend?
If you suspect someone may be at risk for suicide, it is important to ask directly about suicidal thoughts.
Do not avoid using the word “suicide” as it does not increase risk of suicide.
Listen to the person non-judgmentally.
Talking things out shows that you care and want to hear their story.
Take a training through your local CSB or reach out to them to get more information.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an eight-hour, skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues. MHFA is designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis and identify multiple types of resources. Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, MHFA training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
For more information on MHFA and the research and evidence behind it, visit the Mental Health First Aid website.
To find information on the number of trainings and people trained in MHFA, visit Virginia Prevention Works.
There are two main MHFA programs that focus on adults and youth
Adult
Teaches individuals how to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults over 18, how to offer initial support, and how to guide someone toward appropriate care. Topics include depression, anxiety, psychosis, and addiction.
Youth
Teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, or any adult who interacts often with youth how to help a teen (ages 12-18) who is experiencing mental health challenges. This provides an overview of adolescent development and introduces a 5-step action plan to help teens in crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics include depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance use, disruptive behavior, and eating disorders.
Community Coalitions
Community coalitions work to promote wellness and prevent substance misuse. Virginia is fortunate to have more than 50 volunteer-driven community coalitions. Coalitions include individuals from diverse sectors of the community who share a passion for the health of people and places where they live.
Coalitions welcome partners such as: youth, parents, businesses, media, educators, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, faith communities, civic and volunteer organizations, health providers, and other community activists interested in promoting wellness.
DBHDS provides support for collaboration between staff at the Community Services Boards and local coalitions. Using SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework[JF1] , coalition members study local conditions and create a roadmap for addressing health issues through a data-driven, environmental approach.
For people who are interested in volunteering with a community coalition, there are many ways to get involved regardless of prior experience.
A few examples of activities coalition members engage with include:
- Conducting town hall meetings to address underage drinking or other topics of local concern
- Surveying the community to understand attitudes and knowledge about vaping
- Reaching out to community members to share information and explore partnership opportunities
- Hosting training and educational presentations
- Collecting and analyzing local data
- Recruiting youth for advisory boards, media campaign design, and peer-to-peer education
Learn more about membership and training opportunities at Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and state level partner Community Coalitions of Virginia (CCoVA).
Prevention Works
Virginia is working to address specific behavioral health and substance use issues across the state. Key areas of focus for Virginia’s prevention efforts include: youth alcohol use, youth and adult binge drinking, youth tobacco/nicotine use (cigarette and e-cigarette use), suicide/mental health, and opioid, stimulant, and OTC overdoses and misuse. For an overview of specific behavioral health indicators in VA, visit the Virginia Social Indicator Dashboard (VASIS).
Activate Your Wellness
“Activate Your Wellness” promotes wellbeing through awareness messages and calls to action. The campaign is all about representing positivity, growth, and optimism. We want Virginians to know that it’s okay if their wellness is not where they want it to be because even a small step can help create positive change!
Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI)
The Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI) expands access to mental health services for un- and under-insured individuals across the Commonwealth by working with Virginia’s free and charitable clinics and pre-licensed mental health providers in the process of completing licensure.
Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants
As the recipient of federal funds, DBHDS is required to send an annual plan and biennial application to SAMHSA. The Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Combined Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants Application Draft for the Commonwealth has been posted.
Final public comments regarding last year’s application and the DBHDS response
For any written public comment or questions about the block grants or the application, please contact communityoperations@dbhds.virginia.gov or by letter at DBHDS- Office of Enterprise Management Solutions P.O. Box 1797 Richmond, VA 23218-1797.
