On May 7th, 2025, Mitchell Productions was honored to participate in the Suicide Prevention Symposium hosted at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, VA. This impactful event, spearheaded by the Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) Division, brought together clinicians, community leaders, nonprofit advocates, and changemakers—all with a shared mission: to protect the lives and wellness of Virginia’s veteran community.
As the project director for our SOS-funded project, we were proud to represent our Veteran Grief & Wellness Group Program—a collaborative initiative between Mitchell Productions, Forever Healed, Enlightenment Counseling Services, and Destined 2 Thrive. This program was designed to offer safe spaces and therapeutic support for veterans, service members, and their families experiencing grief, loss, and emotional trauma.
A Powerful Moment
During the Community Grantee Presentation segment of the symposium, our very own Lina Lassiter (Founder of Forever Healed and our lead grief coach) shared the mission, goals, and early momentum of our program. It was a powerful opportunity to shine a light on how community-based, culturally competent grief support is saving lives and restoring hope.
We also connected directly with symposium attendees through our marketing materials, sharing information on upcoming group sessions, registration details, and the overall vision of the work we are honored to lead.
Key Takeaways from the Day:
- A deepened understanding of suicide prevention strategies through sessions like “VA S.A.V.E.” and “Women Veterans Health”
- Inspiration from self-care and resilience experts like Lauren Jenkins and Letitia McMillion
- Community connection through our outreach table, where we engaged other grantees, mental health professionals, and policy advocates
- Gratitude to Dr. Angela Porter and the entire SOS team for creating space for community voices and grassroots impact
Moving forward
As we continue to steer our grief and wellness programming, events like this remind us of the urgency—and the opportunity—of our work. Veterans and their families deserve compassionate, ongoing support. And through this grant-funded effort, we are creating a ripple of healing that extends far beyond the program’s eight weeks.
Thank you to Virginia’s SOS team for your trust, support, and belief in community-based healing. Mitchell Productions is proud to be part of this essential movement.
