BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WVDN) — For the first time, the State of West Virginia will observe Dignity Day on September 15, 2025. By proclamation of Governor Patrick Morrisey, this day will honor those who lived and died in the state’s public institutions, recognize those who survived them, and affirm the worth of all who continue to struggle with mental health today.
The request for this proclamation was submitted on behalf of the West Virginia State Hospital Initiative (WVSHI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of institutional mental health care. Through Project Dignity, WVSHI works to recover forgotten stories and ensure that those once reduced to silence are remembered.
“This proclamation is not symbolic to us, it is an answer to silence,” said WVSHI Chairman and Founder, Titus Swan. “I was once told that time had taken over and perhaps, we should just let it all go. But how do you ‘let go’ of thousands of lives? How do you ‘let go’ of people whose only circumstance was to be ill, disabled, or vulnerable? I refused to accept that. With this proclamation, West Virginia has spoken what history too often withheld: their lives mattered, their dignity endured, and they will not be forgotten.”
The proclamation speaks of annual observance, though by nature it applies only to the year in which it was signed. WVSHI intends to resubmit each year until Dignity Day is secured as a permanent part of West Virginia’s calendar and conscience.
This observance is not only about those who came before. It acknowledges the survivors who carry the weight of institutionalization, the families whose histories have been shaped by it, and the many individuals navigating mental health challenges today. In naming this day, West Virginia has taken a step toward remembrance and recognition, affirming that dignity belongs to every life.
“Dignity Day reflects who we are willing to be as a people,” Swan added. “It is not only a recognition of those whose lives were touched by institutionalization, but of the choice of a state to remember them, to honor them, and to say clearly: they mattered.”
WVSHI invites communities across the state and beyond to join in observance on September 15, 2025. Individuals are encouraged to pause, reflect, and honor the lives for whom this day has been proclaimed.
