In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the City of Atlanta reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of wellness through a series of community-centered and workforce-driven mental health initiatives led by the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (MOEDI) and the Mayor’s Mental Health Advisory Group (MHAG).
On May 15, 22 City of Atlanta employees completed an intensive 8-hour Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, equipping them with the tools to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. Much like CPR prepares someone to intervene during a physical health emergency, MHFA empowers individuals to offer timely, effective support during a mental health crisis—whether it’s for a colleague, a community member, or themselves.
Led by MOEDI’s Tahajnah Spence and Dr. Carla Moore, this training supports the broader work of the Mayor’s Mental Health Advisory Group, which seeks to integrate mental health into the City’s leadership strategies, employee wellbeing programs, and community service models. This initiative underscores the City’s investment in early intervention, stigma reduction, and building a resilient, responsive workforce.
To ensure mental health support reaches residents where they are, MOEDI partnered with A Healing Paradigm—a trusted, community-based mental health provider—to provide free mental health screenings during the Atlanta Jazz Festival, one of the City’s largest public events. The activation provided festivalgoers with immediate access to mental health resources, emphasizing the City’s commitment to holistic, equitable care.
Additionally, participants were encouraged to sign a Mental Health Support Pledge—an actionable promise to prioritize mental well-being daily. The pledge calls on individuals to care for their own mental health, support others with empathy, speak openly to reduce stigma, and seek help without shame. It also promotes kindness, balance, and connection as foundational practices. By uniting around this shared commitment, Atlanta is building a community where mental health is valued, supported, and normalized for all.
From the workplace to the park, these activations reflect the City of Atlanta’s comprehensive approach to mental wellness—one that centers access, action, and empathy. Through strategic partnerships and training, the City continues to advance Mayor Andre Dickens’s vision of A City of Opportunity For All.
