The 2025 Green and Jean Day Mental Health Awareness Resource Fair took place indoors on Friday due to bad weather. The event ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center. Despite the rain, vendors shared valuable information about mental health with attendees.
The fair was part of Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to shed light on a growing but often silent issue. Mental Health America reports that 53% of U.S. adults experience mental illness, and 46% will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives.
The Atlanta VA Mental Health Department partnered with several organizations to organize the fair. Participants included both internal and external groups such as the PACT Act team, St. Vincent de Paul, Suicide Prevention, Caregiver Support, and Claratel Behavioral Health (formerly known as Community Service Board).
Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized nationwide each May since 1949. Every year, the Department of Veterans Affairs joins the effort to highlight the importance of mental health in overall well-being. The goal is to reduce stigma, educate the public, and promote policies that support people living with mental health conditions.
“Mental Health Awareness Month is a way to raise awareness for people living with mental illnesses and to help reduce the stigma surrounding these conditions,” said Kajuana Pitts, LCSW, the Local Recovery Coordinator who has organized the fair for the past four years.
According to VA mental health experts, many Veterans may never face mental health challenges. But for those who do, knowing that help is available is essential. The VA is working to change the way people talk about mental health, making it easier for Veterans to seek support without fear or shame.
“Taking care of our mental health is just as important as physical fitness,” said Pitts. “When we are mentally well, we can better handle challenges in our personal and professional lives.”
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