The Montgomery County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will host Virginia state senator and former gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds at its annual “Heroes of the Year” fundraiser in November.
Deeds, a Democrat, has become a public advocate for increased mental health awareness after being stabbed multiple times in the head and chest by his 24-year-old son, Gus Deeds. The younger Deeds committed suicide after attacking his father last November.
Gus Deeds suffered from bipolar disorder. He was released from emergency custody shortly before the attack because officials could not find a psychiatric bed for him. Since his son’s death, Creigh Deeds has focused on legislation to improve Virginia’s mental health system and last month was appointed the chairman of a state panel to study mental health.
“We wanted to honor the senator because not only has he been affected by mental illness in the most tragic way, but he has turned that grief into action,” said Stephanie Rosen, executive director of NAMI Montgomery County. “He brought to national attention the devastation that untreated mental illness can cause.”
The event is the primary fundraiser for NAMI Montgomery County, which advocates for local individuals living with mental illness and their families.
Rosen said that politics did not play into NAMI’s decision to honor Deeds.
“Mental illness is not a partisan issue, it affects everybody. It does not discriminate,” Rosen said. She said Deeds deserves to be honored as a hero even if he doesn’t consider himself to be one. “Someone who has his kind of influence and was personally affected is exactly the kind of hero we want to honor.”
The Nov. 7 event at the Pooks Hill Marriott will also honor NBC 4 for its series “Changing Minds,” which is the network’s yearlong examination of mental health issues.