Curated events, community engagement projects, and educative conversations and trainings took place throughout the month of May as staff and clinicians at Riverbend marked Mental Health Awareness Month. Generous support from local businesses and organizations in our community helped Riverbend’s efforts and reinforced the importance of our mission.

Riverbend is thankful for the generosity demonstrated by: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, CGI Business Solutions, Merrimack County Savings Bank, NAMI New Hampshire, Bailey’s Custom Carpets, Inc., Borislow Insurance, JH Spain, St. Mary’s Bank and Mason + Rich.

First established in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month is a national commemoration that recognizes the importance of mental health, raises awareness of wellness in the lives of Americans, and celebrates those who have recovered from mental illness.

May is a time for outreach and support for those living with mental health conditions and the families, friends and colleagues who are there to help. Educational programming efforts during the month included:

• An expert addiction training with Dr. Cali Estes of , covering methamphetamines and opioids
• A book reading and panel presentation featuring Riverbend authors discussing the  they wrote together on children and grief
• Sponsorships, information handouts and attendance at partner events and at community conversations, including events with NAMI (),Ěý, The , and at the Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý.

“Whether at our own events or out in the community this month, we loved hearing stories from clients, supporters and members of the public and seeing just how far we have progressed as a society in growing awareness and reducing stigma around mental health,” said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of Riverbend. “While the month of May is an important commemoration, maintaining your own positive mental health or supporting others should be a daily ritual. Seek care, practice self-care and remember that everyone has mental health.”

• Psychiatric Emergency Services – telehealth for deployments.
• Substance Use Disorders/Choices – Building closed to the public; all services converted to telehealth.
• Children’s Intervention Program – Building closed; all services converted to telehealth. No community-based services.
• Community Support Program – Building closed; all services converted to telehealth. No community-based services.
• Franklin Office – Building closed; all services converted to telehealth. No community-based services.
• Residential Services – standard operating procedures.
• 29 School Street (Riverbend Administration building) – closed to the public. Staff will be available but working remotely.

For further client service, please contact the applicable Riverbend program if needed.

Housed at 42 Pleasant Street in Concord, the Choices program has an open-access model for services. Walk-in hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday allow those seeking help to get immediate assistance. While intakes are first-come, first-served, clients can also call ahead to coordinate the best times for them to come to the office.

“Easy access to care through walk-in intakes is a simple way for someone to get the care they need immediately, and start on a pathway to healing.” Said Shanna Large-Reusch, Riverbend’s director of substance use disorders. “Our committed staff is proud to offer this service to best support our clients as they seek the help they need.”

Location:

42 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 03301

Walk-in times:

Choices’ walk-in hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Intakes are first-come-first-served, though clients can call ahead to coordinate the best time to come to the office.

Available Services:

Outpatient substance use treatment:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Intensive Outpatient (IOP) group therapy
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment
• Level of care evaluations
• Impaired Driver Service Provider (IDSP) therapy services (appointment required for IDSP services and based on clinical availability)
• Evaluations for MLADC (Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor). NOTE: appointment required for MLADC evaluations and based on clinical availability.

Eligibility:

Adults (18 years and older) looking for substance use outpatient treatment (alcohol use, opioid use, methamphetamine use, etc.)

Contact:

Call the main Choices office at 844-524-6673 or walk in at 42 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH.

Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. Among other skills, trainees will learn:

common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance abuse challenges.

how to interact with a person in crisis.

how to connect a person with help.

principles of an action plan to best help someone in a crisis situation.

The course will be taught by the following Riverbend staff:

Aurelia Hutchison, a member of Riverbend’s mobile crisis response team, with experience in community crisis response in both mental health and substance use disorder situations.

Danielle Schofield, the office manager for the adult and children’s program at our Franklin office. Danielle has worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive a globally recognized certification, good for three years.

Medicaid Webinar – Flyer

How Can You Can Make a Difference? 

• Support our mission by donating to the Transforming Lives Through Support Naming Initiative. 
• Receive recognition with a named space or program within our agency.
• Leave a lasting impact on mental health in our community, and serve as an example to others.

Why Your Support Matters

Your donation will help us:

• Sustain our mental health programs and services.
• Reach more individuals in need of support.
• Continue to break down stigma and barriers to mental health care.
• Create a brighter future for our community.

The changing terms of Medicaid coverage from the pandemic era (2020-2023) have had a serious financial impact on mental health providers, making community support and funding more essential than ever. Riverbend established the Transforming Lives through Support Naming Initiative to secure crucial support for our organization’s programs, enabling us to maintain our reach and impact in Merrimack County and beyond.

Earlier this year, Riverbend relocated its administrative offices to downtown Concord, enhancing its community visibility, while transforming the former administrative office space at 278 Pleasant Street into a 12-bed community residence. The residence serves individuals with severe persistent mental illness, addressing a crucial need in our community and helping to mitigate emergency room boarding. By offering naming opportunities for rooms and spaces, we aim to generate vital resources to support our programs and continue to provide a healing environment. An example of the many services and programs Riverbend offers include:

• Counseling for children and families
• Autism supports
• Community Support: offering specialized services for adults with severe mental illness
• Walk-in care
• Integrated health
• Supported employment services
• Residential treatment programs
• Addiction & Recovery: Our Choices program provides outpatient addiction treatment
• Psychiatric Emergency Services:
• Mobile crisis team
• Crisis stabilization apartments
• Wellness education
  • Mental Health First Aid training
  • Trauma response services for those affected by critical incidents

Consider a tribute to a loved one or family through our Naming Initiative while simultaneously making a direct, immediate difference in one’s life! Local businesses, families and individuals have heeded this call, and we welcome others to our giving circle.

If you are interested in being a part of this initiative, please email our Director of Development, Brenda Aziz, at baziz@riverbendcmhc.org.

18th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards

51°µÍř Mental Health

A Champion for Mental Health is an individual who:

• Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
• Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
• Publicly gives voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that surround the disease.

Previous winners include:

• The Hon. John Broderick, Jr., former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
• Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety
• Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster
• Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, training consultant and clinician
• John Barthelmes, former colonel, New Hampshire State Police
• And many more!

Honor those making a difference in the mental health of our local communities – alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, helping those with addictions or mental  illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbend’s Champions for Mental Health awards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration.

Questions? Contact: development@riverbendcmhc.org

Make your nomination today!

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 12, 2024.

(Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award. Champions must live or have spent significant time working on the issue of mental health in Merrimack County or Riverbend’s catchment area).

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, 51°µÍř Mental Health will host a film screening and panel presentation for “” – a documentary film screening for the first time in New Hampshire.

The film chronicles a concerning issue: the community mental health challenges facing many of America’s mountain resort towns. Isolation, inadequate resources, substance abuse and social stigmas are all contributing factors. “The Paradise Paradox” takes a closer look at how mental health providers, outdoor recreation professionals, and law enforcement are working together to create innovative solutions. Olympic gold medalist – and New Hampshire native – Bode Miller is an executive producer of the film.

The film screening will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at Red River Theatres in Concord. Immediately after, a community conversation will take place with local experts, including:

• Sarah (Baillargeon) Gagnon, VP of Clinical Operations at 51°µÍř Mental Health
• Suzanne Gaetjens-Oleson, Chief Executive Officer,
• Caite Zeliff, and New Hampshire native (appearing by video)
• John Brown, 40+-year veteran of the Ěý(, Danbury, NH), and a retired firefighter
• Stef Costello, Patrol Director, (Henniker, NH); Firefighter Paramedic (Town of Henniker)

Members of the public are invited to view the film and participate in the community conversation following the screening. Tickets can be .

“Bringing this film to new audiences will allow us to highlight this specific, if not necessarily well-known, aspect of mental health. While the film focuses on resort areas in the West, New Hampshire has a deep culture of mountain sports and recreation that lends an interesting contrast and some food for thought,” said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°µÍř Mental Health. “We are grateful to convene this conversation with other experts and partners who will share their stories and learnings with the wider community, all in the interest of raising awareness and providing help.”

Mental Health Awareness Month, first established in 1949, is held in May each year to recognize the importance of mental health, raise awareness of wellness in the lives of Americans, and celebrate those who have recovered from mental illness. Riverbend will mark this important commemoration through events reaching the general public, key stakeholders, and staff.

“Everyone has mental health! Mental Health Awareness Month is about recognizing the importance of mental health in all of our lives, all of the time,” said Madden.

Riverbend’s other events related to Mental Health Awareness Month include:

• Mental Health First Aid: 51°µÍř Mental Health is proud to offer low-cost Mental Health First Aid training to interested members of our community. The skills-based training course – from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing -teaches people how to understand and respond to someone who is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenge. The course costs $60 (course materials and certification) and is limited to 25 participants. Interested parties can register online .
• Author talk: Riverbend will host a lunch and learn for its children’s program staff and community partners, speaking with activist and author about the issue of food insecurity and mental health.

EVENT DETAILS:

The Paradise Paradox

When: Tuesday, May 14, 2024

6:30 – 7:45 – Film screening

7:45 – 8:30 – Panel discussion/Community Conversation

Where: Red River Theatres
11 South Main Street

Concord, NH  03301

Tickets: For tickets, register .

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51°µÍř Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Nearly 8,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; and community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on , (formerly known as Twitter), or .