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

51°µĶų 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 Hampshireā€™s overall mental health system. Fetter will be honored at Riverbendā€™s 20th annual Champions for Mental Health Awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.

51°µĶų Mental Health provides comprehensive mental health care services to residents of 30 central New Hampshire communities. For 20 years, Riverbendā€™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.

ā€œDr. 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,ā€ said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°µĶų Mental Health. ā€œHis work reflects an extraordinary combination of clinical expertise, leadership, advocacy, and compassion. Dr. Fetterā€™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.ā€

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 stateā€™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.

Fetterā€™s work has also included leadership at 51°µĶų 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 Riverbendā€™s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. He led the organizationā€™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 Hampshireā€™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.

ā€œThis recognition is such an honor, especially coming from Riverbend, an agency Iā€™ve worked alongside for so much of my career and so is uniquely familiar with my work over the years, both where Iā€™ve been helpful and where I may have fallen short,ā€ said Dr. Fetter. ā€œA critical part of our community and our regionā€™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.Ģż Iā€™m proud to support Riverbend and its staff, and to highlight to the great work they do.ā€

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 Riverbendā€™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, NHĢż 03301

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

5:30 ā€“ 6:15 p.m. ā€“ Reception

6:15 ā€“ 7:15 p.m. ā€“ Ceremony & Awards Presentation

Tickets & Registration

Sponsorship Information:

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

Ģż

Celebrating more than 60 years of hope and healing, 51°µĶų 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.

20th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards

51°µĶų Mental Health

Champions winners onstage with Riverbend staff at the 2025Ģżawards ceremony

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

For Riverbend, aĢżChampion for Mental HealthĢżis an individual who:
ā€¢ Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
ā€¢ Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
ā€¢ 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 ā€“ alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, or helping those with addictions or mental illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbendā€™sĢżChampions for Mental HealthĢżawards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration. This yearā€™s event will be held Tuesday, October 6 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord.Ģż

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 childrenā€™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.Ģż
(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 Riverbendā€™s 30-community catchment area).

Questions? Contact:Ģżdevelopment@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°µĶų 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 ā€œMore Good Days, Togetherā€, reflecting the importance of building community, providing support, and promoting sustainable wellness ā€“ 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.

ā€œOver 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,ā€ said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of 51°µĶų Mental Health. ā€œHowever, 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 ā€˜More Good Days, Togetherā€™ is an apt reminder to take every day as an opportunity to make progress on oneā€™s mental health journey, or help those in need, whether family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues.ā€

Riverbendā€™s Mental Health Awareness Month activities for 2026 will include:

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

Join clinicians from Riverbendā€™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.ĢżFunding for the training was provided through the State of New Hampshireā€™s NH Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program.

ĢżBOOK DISCUSSION & READING (May 20, 5:30 to 7, FREE)Ģż

During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians with Riverbendā€™s Childrenā€™s Intervention Program worked together in a creative process to write a childrenā€™s book geared at helping young people understand and move through the grieving process. The book, titled ā€œYou Can Always Talk to Possum at Life Forestā€, 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 ā€“ ROUND-IT-UP AT THE REGISTER (May 1-31)

Riverbend is grateful to be the beneficiary of the ā€™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 ā€˜roundā€™ 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 ā€“ the international color of mental health awareness ā€“ are available for posting in shop windows, in office spaces, and on vehicles. Contact Riverbendā€™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. ā€“ 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°µĶų 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.

18th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards

51°µĶų 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 mentalĢż 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).

17th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards.

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.

Make your nomination today!

The deadline for nominations is July 14, 2023.

(Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award)

Published: 5/5/2022 5:10:51 PM

Modified: 5/5/2022 5:09:20 PM

May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. Riverbend Mental Health hopes youā€™ll join them in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by attending one or all of the events being offered in May. There is so much to learn.

Magnify Voices: May 4, 5 to 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, Derry

Riverbend is pleased to be partnering with the NH Childrenā€™s System of Care to present Magnify Voices ā€“ an expressive arts contest ā€“ to the Tupelo Music Hall on May 4. NH CSoC started Magnify Voices in 2019 during Childrenā€™s Mental Health Awareness Month in May to highlight the inadequacies in the system that serves youth and families in N.H. Magnify Voices is part of a larger, national effort to recognize the vital importance of positive mental health for a childā€™s healthy development. Youth in middle and high school (grades 5 – 12) are invited to submit creative pieces about their experiences with mental health in New Hampshire. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges with varied expertise according to their grade (5-8th and 9-12th). All creative pieces will be showcased to help raise awareness, erase stigma and effectuate change. Free registration includes complimentary food and beverage.

Learn more at tinyurl.com/magnifyvoices2022.

Wellness in the workplace: May 11, noon to 1 p.m., virtual

Join the NH Community Behavioral Health Association and itsā€™ ten community mental health centers along with their respective chambers of commerce, for a presentation by Kim LaMontagne, President and CEO of Kim LaMontagne, LLC, International Speaker, Corporate Trainer, and Author. The 4 Pillars is a corporate training that teaches leaders how to create a ā€˜culture of safetyā€™ in the workplace. A culture of safety is one where everyone feels safe speaking openly about mental health without fear of judgment, retribution, or job loss.

Registration can be found at nhcbha.org/events.

Donald Antrim:ĢżMay 17, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Gibsonā€™s Bookstore, Concord

Riverbend is excited to be partnering with Gibsonā€™s Bookstore to bring Donald Antrim and his book,ĢżOne Friday in April: A Story of Suicide and Survival, to Gibsonā€™s in downtown Concord on May 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The New York Times describesĢżOne Friday in AprilĢżas an ā€œengrossing, necessary book ā€” part memoir, part philosophical treatise ā€” he argues that suicide is ā€˜a disease process, not an act or a choice.ā€™ Those who suffer from mental illness and die by (or ā€œofā€) suicide do not take their own lives, Antrim says, but have their lives taken from them.ā€

Donald Antrim is the author of three novels, includingĢżElect Mr. Robinson for a Better World, and a memoir,ĢżThe Afterlife.ĢżA regular contributor to The New Yorker, he has also been the recipient of a MacArthur ā€œGeniusā€ Grant and fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center at the New York Public Library. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

This event is free to the public. PurchaseĢżOne Friday in AprilĢżat Gibsonsbookstore.com.

Pizza fundraiser:ĢżMay 17, all day

Enjoy some delicious food at Constantly Pizza at their Concord or Penacook locations and help support our efforts at 51°µĶų Mental Health. Thanks to the generous folks at Constantly Pizza, 20% of all sales on this day will be donated to Riverbend!

This is My Brave:ĢżMay 25, 7 to 9 p.m.,ĢżBank of New Hampshire Stage

Riverbend is bringing This Is My Brave (a national non-profit Mental Health and Addiction Recovery storytelling event) to New Hampshire for the fourth year in a row this year and are ecstatic to share that we will once again be liveĢżat the Bank of N.H. Stage in Downtown Concord.

This Is My Brave is a storytelling event about what itā€™s like to live with a mental illness and the possibilities for success, with a goal of leaving the audience inspired should they themselves be struggling or know somebody who is. Stories are shared via original essay, poetry, music, dance, or even comedy.

The mission of This Is My Brave is to empower individuals to put their names and faces on their true stories of recovery from mental illness and addiction. The vision of This Is My Brave is to one day live in a world where we donā€™t have to call it ā€œbraveā€ to talk openly about mental illness. Weā€™ll simply call it talking.

Tickets can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Magnify Voices – May 4th – Tupelo Music Hall

Riverbend is pleased to be partnering with the NH Childrenā€™s System of Care (NH CSOC) to present Magnify Voices ā€“ an expressive arts contest ā€“ to the Tupelo Music Hall on May 4^th.

NH CSOC started Magnify Voices in 2019 during Childrenā€™s Mental Health Awareness Month in May to highlight the inadequacies in the system that serves youth and families in NH. Magnify Voices is part of a larger, national effort to recognize the vital importance of positive mental health for a childā€™s healthy development.

Youth in middle and high school (grades 5 – 12) are invited to submit creative pieces about their experiences with mental health in New Hampshire. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges with varied expertise according to their grade (5-8th and 9-12th). All creative pieces will be showcased to help raise awareness, erase stigma and effectuate change!

Kim Lamontagne on the 4 Pillars of Creating & Sustaining a Culture of Mental Health Safety in the Workplace – May 11th – Virtual Workshop

Join the NH Community Behavioral Health Association and itsā€™ ten community mental health centers along with their respective chambers of commerce, for a presentation by Kim LaMontagne, President / CEO of Kim LaMontagne, LLC, International Speaker, Corporate Trainer, and Author.

The 4 Pillars is a corporate training that teaches leaders how to create a ā€˜culture of safetyā€™ in the workplace. A culture of safety is one where everyone feels safe speaking openly about mental health without fear of judgment, retribution, or job loss.

Riverbend Reads: One Friday in April: A Story of Suicide and Survival by Donald Antrim – May 17th – Gibson’s Bookstore

Riverbend is excited to be partnering with Gibsonā€™s Bookstore to bring Donald Antrim and his book, One Friday in April: A Story of Suicide and Survival, to Concord in May.

The New York Times describes One Friday in April as an ā€œengrossing, necessary book ā€” part memoir, part philosophical treatise ā€” he argues that suicide is ā€œa disease process, not an act or a choice.ā€ Those who suffer from mental illness and die by (or ā€œofā€) suicide do not take their own lives, Antrim says, but have their lives taken from them.ā€

Donald AntrimĢżis the author of three novels, includingĢżElect Mr. Robinson for a Better World, and a memoir,ĢżThe Afterlife. A regular contributor toĢżThe New Yorker, he has also been the recipient of a MacArthur ā€œGeniusā€ Grant and fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and theĢżDorothy and Lewis B. Cullman CenterĢżat theĢżNew York Public Library. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

This Is My Brave – May 25th – Bank of NH Stage

Riverbend is bringing This Is My Brave (a national non-profit Mental Health and Addiction Recovery storytelling event) to New Hampshire for the 4th year in a row this year and are ecstatic to share that we will once again be LIVE at the Bank of NH Stage in Downtown Concord on May 25^th.

This Is My Brave is a storytelling event about what itā€™s like to live with a mental illness and the possibilities for success, with a goal of leaving the audience inspired should they themselves be struggling or know somebody who is. Stories are shared via original essay, poetry, music, dance, or even comedy!

The mission of This Is My Brave is to empower individuals to put their names and faces on their true stories of recovery from mental illness and addiction. The vision of This Is My Brave is to one day live in a world where we donā€™t have to call it ā€œbraveā€ to talk openly about mental illness. Weā€™ll simply call it talking.