by John Reid

Since 2013, there has been a sharp rise in the number of drug overdoses within Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the leading cause of unnatural death is drug overdoses. It is largely due to fentanyl overdose, which since 2021 has led to 76.4% of all Virginia overdose deaths. This has been a major problem within Prince William County, as a reported 406 deaths have taken place in 2022, approximately 5.8% of the population. On Sunday afternoon in Triangle at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, along with several other community and faith leaders, held the 2023 Youth Behavioral Health Assembly.

Led by the V.O.I.C.E coalition, the VA Association of Chiefs of Police, and the VA Hospital and Healthcare Association, the focus of the assembly was to discuss mental health, as well as the opioid overdose crisis impacting youth in Virginia. Pastor Michael Sessoms of Little Union Baptist Church and Reverend Rebecca Messman of Burke Presbyterian Church were the facilitators, as well as Iman Abdulahad Farooq of Dar Al-Noor Islamic center. There were more than 40 churches represented, each bringing several members of their respective congregations. Overall, approximately 760 people were in attendance for this important discussion. Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who was instrumental in the development of the Crisis Receiving Center, welcomed everyone to the event.

The assembly provided opportunities for those from different backgrounds to share their stories of their experiences of seeing the dangers of the opioid epidemic. At one point, Reverend Messman asked the audience who has seen a loved one experience an overdose, and several hands went up. “If you have raised your hand,” she said, “chances are you have climbed a mountain, and you know how tall that mountain is.”

Governor Youngkin addressed the congregants about how his administration is working to resolve the problems impacting youth behavior. “It’s personal for all of us,” he said. “Every hand in the room went up, but the question was asked have you been impacted by the behavioral health crisis?”

“This isn’t about Republicans and Democrats,” he continued, “it’s not about urban or rural, it’s not about rich or poor, but it’s about everyone.”

His initiatives: “Priority number one is to have an aspiration to make sure we’re providing health for people when they need it,” he said, “and the vast majority of the time that is same day health, the day they need it. Second of all, we must go to work to decriminalize behavioral health challenges.”

“We must reduce the burden on law enforcement,” he continued, “and create alternative pathways to get help that do not include law enforcement and do not include the emergency department and hospitals.”

Tara Ouden, Certified Mental Health Counselor, founder of Connect the Dots, Inc. and Prince William County teacher was at the assembly and talked about its significance.

“To quote the statement by Reverend Andra Hoxie, ‘We are all starting from the same place – humanity,’ she said. “It was beautiful to see people, community leaders and public servants from diverse faiths, backgrounds, colors, and political affiliations, together in one room. They were identifying solutions to combat the mental health and opioid crisis affecting the youth in Virginia.”

(Photos provided by Tara Ouden)