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Riverbend Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary of Annual Awards Ceremony, Honoring Outstanding Mental Health Advocates and Leaders

51°”Íű Mental Health named Dr. Jeffrey C. Fetter of and as its 2026 Champion for Mental Health. Dr. Fetter is a psychiatrist and physician leader committed to improving care for people with serious mental illness and strengthening New Hampshire’s overall mental health system. Fetter will be honored at Riverbend’s 20th annual Champions for Mental Health Awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.

51°”Íű Mental Health provides comprehensive mental health care services to residents of 30 central New Hampshire communities. For 20 years, Riverbend’s Champions for Mental Health Awards has recognized individuals and organizations that advocate for greater access to mental health services, contribute extraordinary time, talent or resources to improving the lives of people with mental illness, or give voice to those with mental illness while helping to eliminate stigma and stereotypes.

“Dr. Jeffrey Fetter is a highly respected public servant who has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people with serious mental illness and strengthening the systems that serve them,” said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°”Íű Mental Health. “His work reflects an extraordinary combination of clinical expertise, leadership, advocacy, and compassion. Dr. Fetter’s continuing commitment to strengthening systems, increasing access for people who need help, and for providing a voice for individuals and families navigating the mental health system has helped foster positive systems change with healthcare providers, local authorities, our State Legislature, affiliated organizations, and the general public. We applaud his impactful contributions and know our system of care in New Hampshire will continue to see long-term improvement and benefit from his advocacy, actions and expertise.”

Fetter is a board-certified psychiatrist and internist. He has spent decades working at the intersection of medical and psychiatric care, public health and mental health policy, with a focus on improving outcomes for people with serious mental illness who often face complex medical, social, and systemic challenges. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of New Hampshire Hospital, the state’s only inpatient adult psychiatric facility, where he provides clinical and quality oversight and leads efforts to advance evidence-based care, education and program development. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the at Dartmouth.

Fetter’s work has also included leadership at 51°”Íű Mental Health, serving as Chief Medical Officer and overseeing psychiatric care across community-based, residential and integrated care settings, plus providing direct patient care on Riverbend’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. He led the organization’s clinical response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Fetter combines clinical leadership with advocacy and systems improvement, through developing innovative approaches to care, advancing evidence-based practices, educating and mentoring behavioral health professionals, and sharing clinical expertise to policymakers on issues affecting New Hampshire’s mental health system. Since 2006, he has provided expert testimony and data clinical expertise to legislative, regulatory and judicial matters, helping shape policies and practices that support better care for people with mental illness throughout New Hampshire.

“This recognition is such an honor, especially coming from Riverbend, an agency I’ve worked alongside for so much of my career and so is uniquely familiar with my work over the years, both where I’ve been helpful and where I may have fallen short,” said Dr. Fetter. “A critical part of our community and our region’s healthcare system, Riverbend is a great example of a community mental health center with a strong client-centered culture that keeps it resilient and on-mission, even in times of great change.Ìę I’m proud to support Riverbend and its staff, and to highlight to the great work they do.”

Recognized nationally and throughout New Hampshire, Fetter received an Exemplary Psychiatrist Award in 2023 from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of only four psychiatrists nationally to receive the honor that year. Fetter grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is a talented multi-instrument musician who plays with local bands.

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EVENT DETAILS:

The Champions for Mental Health Awards are part of Riverbend’s ongoing effort to recognize those who help advance mental health awareness, advocacy, and access to care across New Hampshire. The 2026 event marks the 20th anniversary of the annual celebration.

Where: BNH Stage
16 S. Main Street

Concord, NHÌę 03301

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

5:30 – 6:15 p.m. – Reception

6:15 – 7:15 p.m. – Ceremony & Awards Presentation

Tickets & Registration

Sponsorship Information:

To support Riverbend or be part of the event, contact Riverbend’s Community Affairs Office at: development@riverbendcmhc.org.

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Celebrating more than 60 years of hope and healing, 51°”Íű 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. Close to 5,000 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; community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

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 ofÌę, covering methamphetamines and opioids
• A book reading and panel presentation featuring Riverbend authors discussing theÌęÌęthey wrote together on children and grief
• Sponsorships, information handouts and attendance at partner events and at community conversations, including events with NAMI (),Ìę, TheÌę, and at theÌęÌęandÌę.

“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 thatÌęeveryone has mental health.”

20th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards

51°”Íű Mental Health

Champions winners onstage with Riverbend staff at the 2025Ìęawards ceremony

This year, Riverbend is celebrating 20 years of honoring community changemakers through its Champions for Mental Health Awards.

For Riverbend, aÌęChampion for Mental HealthÌęis 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.

Past champions have expanded training opportunities, implemented programs, provided essential clinical services, worked with legislative or community partners to change policy, and shared stories that grew recognition of the importance of mental health.

Honor those making a difference in the mental health of our local communities – alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, or helping those with addictions or mental illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbend’sÌęChampions for Mental HealthÌęawards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, October 6 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.Ìę

Previous winners include:

• John Barthelmes, former Colonel, New Hampshire State Police
• The Hon. John Broderick, Jr., former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
• John and David Constant, Constantly Pizza (Concord)
• Dr. Dominic Geffken, Concord Hospital Family Health Center
• Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, training consultant and clinician
• Lucy C. Hodder, Professor of Law
• Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster
• Brielle Paquette, advocate for children’s mental health
• Susan Paschell, The Dupont Group
• Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety

And many, many more!

Make your nomination today.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 12, 2026.Ìę
(NOTE: 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 in Riverbend’s 30-community catchment area).

Questions? Contact:Ìędevelopment@riverbendcmhc.org

Better Health, Better Days

A book reading with local authors, mental health and addiction training sessions, and other community engagement activities are on offer for Mental Health Awareness Month, being celebrated locally and as part of national awareness efforts in May. Throughout the month, 51°”Íű Mental Health will offer programming geared toward connecting with community members and reiterating the importance of mental health.

First commemorated in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) is a dedicated time to think about and to acknowledge the role mental health plays in all our daily lives. The 2026 national theme is “More Good Days, Together”, reflecting the importance of building community, providing support, and promoting sustainable wellness – all active ways for individuals, organizations and communities to have more good days, together.

National data released from for 2025 showed that more than one-fifth of the U.S. adult population experiences mental illness each year. And in 2024, nearly 2.8 million youth experienced a major depressive episode, impacting their ability to function at home, school or work. Closer to home, the same report showed that New Hampshire is one of ten U.S. states with the highest prevalences of mental health and substance use issues; however, data also placed New Hampshire in the top five when it comes to providing access to insurance and mental health care.

With that perspective, Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder of the importance of reducing stigma around mental health conditions and diseases, and the need to celebrate and acknowledge people in our community who currently face mental health challenges or have overcome related issues.

“Over the decades since Mental Health Awareness Month was first commemorated, we as a society have made tremendous strides in recognizing the importance of mental and behavioral health in our overall well-being,” said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°”Íű Mental Health. “However, we must remain vigilant as other factors continue to impact daily mental health, from housing and food insecurity to digital overload, to modern stressors on individuals, families and communities. The 2026 theme of ‘More Good Days, Together’ is an apt reminder to take every day as an opportunity to make progress on one’s mental health journey, or help those in need, whether family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues.”

Riverbend’s Mental Health Awareness Month activities for 2026 will include:

EXPERT ADDICTION TRAINING (May 20, 1-4 p.m., FREE)

Join clinicians from Riverbend’s Choices program for a special live webinar and q-n-a session with a nationally renowned addiction expert! The Opioid and Methamphetamine Training Program is an intensive professional development course designed to give counselors, coaches, and treatment professionals a comprehensive understanding of two of the most destructive drugs in circulation today. Developed by Dr. Cali Estes and , the training provides a clear overview of the history, current trends, and medical applications surrounding opioids and methamphetamines. The training will also go in depth about how methamphetamine differs from other stimulants such as cocaine or Adderall. Students learn not only the science behind the drugs but also the cultural and environmental factors that make meth and opioid use especially dangerous.

The event is open to community partners, clinicians, and interested members of the public.ÌęFunding for the training was provided through the State of New Hampshire’s NH Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program.

ÌęBOOK DISCUSSION & READING (May 20, 5:30 to 7, FREE)Ìę

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians with Riverbend’s Children’s Intervention Program worked together in a creative process to write a children’s book geared at helping young people understand and move through the grieving process. The book, titled “You Can Always Talk to Possum at Life Forest”, was published in 2025. Life Forest, an environmentally friendly, nonprofit conservation cemetery in Hillsborough, was a collaborator on the project. Riverbend will host a panel presentation and book reading with the authors and a representative from Life Forest, discussing children and grief and providing helpful tips for parents and adults. The event is open to the public.

CONCORD FOOD CO-OP – ROUND-IT-UP AT THE REGISTER (May 1-31)

Riverbend is grateful to be the beneficiary of the ’s Round-It-Up at the Register program. The program invites Co-op shoppers to donate to local organizations that make a positive community impact. When going through check-out, shoppers are asked to ‘round’ their purchases to the nearest dollar — a simple way to donate and make a difference to partner organizations. During the month of May, any extra funds received through round-up purchases will benefit Riverbend and its programs and services. Through the generosity of the Concord Food Co-op and its customers, more than $227,000 has been raised for local nonprofits through this program

STICK FOR SUPPORT (May 1-31)

Local businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to show their support for Riverbend and Mental Health Awareness Month. Free stickers showcasing the color green – the international color of mental health awareness – are available for posting in shop windows, in office spaces, and on vehicles. Contact Riverbend’s Community Affairs team for more information and to receive a complimentary sticker: development@riverbendcmhc.org

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (June 4, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., fee-based course)

Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges facing young people, via an online course in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge; how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a youth who may be experiencing a mental health challenge; and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.

Riverbend clinicians will provide the training online. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive their Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification, a globally recognized credential that is valid for three years. The fee-based course is open to the public.

In addition to these events, Riverbend will mark Mental Health Awareness Month through speaking opportunities in the community, a donor appreciation event, community sponsorships and digital content. Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month nationally by visiting the Mental Health America .

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51°”Íű 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 5,000 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 Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or LinkedIn.

• PsychiatricÌęEmergency 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 ServicesÌę– 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.

When most people think about mental illness, they imagine sadness, anxiety, or troubling behaviors. As a psychiatrist, I often see something deeper and potentially more helpful: problems in how the brain experiencesÌęreward.

Our brains are designed to guide us toward what matters—relationships, purpose, pleasure, and hope. When that internal “reward system” is working well, it helps us learn from experience, stay motivated, and recover from stress. But when it’s disrupted, people can become stuck in states that look very different on the surface, yet share a common root.

Depression, for example, is not simply feeling sad. Many people with depression describe a loss of pleasure, motivation, or meaning. Things that once mattered no longer register. Mania can be the opposite problem: the brain’s reward system is turned up too high, attaching enormous importance to ideas or actions that others might see as risky or unrealistic. Psychosis can involve the brain assigning meaning or urgency where it doesn’t belong, making the world feel confusing or threatening.

Seen this way, mental illness is less about “weakness” and more about misfiring signals. The brain’s internal GPS is giving poor directions.

This perspective matters because it changes how we respond. Instead of asking, “Why won’t this person just try harder?” we ask, “What signals is their brain sending them right now?” That shift leads to compassion, patience, and better care.

At 51°”Íű Mental Health, our work is built around this understanding. Medications, therapy, structure, and human connection all help recalibrate the brain’s reward system over time. Progress is often gradual, and setbacks happen—but recovery is real.

For our community, this lens also reduces stigma. If mental illness is a disorder of brain signaling rather than character, then seeking help becomes an act of strength, not failure.

Your support—whether through donations, advocacy, or simple understanding—helps us provide care that is thoughtful, evidence-based, and deeply human. When we help someone rediscover meaning, motivation, and connection, we are not just treating illness. We are helping their brain find its way home.

Paul J. Brown, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of 51°”Íű Mental Health Center. He provides clinical and strategic leadership across outpatient, inpatient, and crisis services, with a focus on quality improvement, systems integration, and evidence-based psychiatric care. He also serves as Chair of the New Hampshire Suicide Fatality Review Committee and previously held a faculty appointment at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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.