Supporting Youth and Young Adults through Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Across the State
Mental health and suicide prevention among our youth and young adult populations have been a growing concern in New Hampshire, especially for many individuals and families who are still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2020, NAMI NH (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Granite United Way joined a partnership with seven other nonprofits across the state to launch a 5-year project that supports suicide prevention in youth and young adults in New Hampshire and builds a stronger mental health system across the state to help prevent suicide and improve the lives of people affected by mental illness.
“Granite United Way has been a critical partner in our youth suicide prevention work over the years,” said Susan Stearns, Executive Director of NAMI NH. “Partnering with other organizations and bringing our forces together leads to greater impact for Granite Staters and their families.”
One collaborative effort that has come from this partnership is the Garrett Lee Smith New Hampshire Nexus Project 2.0 (GLS NHNP 2.0). Its goal is to reduce suicide incidents among youth and young adults by strengthening cross-systems collaboration, improving pathways to care, and offering comprehensive training opportunities that provide youth-serving organizations with the resources to identify, assess, refer, and treat youth at risk of suicide.
NAMI NH, Granite United Way, The Behavioral Health Improvement Institute, Headrest, Northern Human Services, Riverbend, North Country Health Consortium, NHTI, and White Mountain Community College have partnered to support and provide services to individuals ages 10-24 across the Capital Area, Carroll County, and North Country Regional Public Health Networks of New Hampshire.
"It takes a village,” says Susan Ward, Suicide Prevention Coordinator of NAMI NH. “This collaboration of partners allows us all to connect with different regions, exchange ideas, and greater support the community.”
An important aspect of this project is hiring Youth Suicide Prevention Care Liaisons to work in collaboration with NAMI NH and partner mental health organizations. The Care Liaison works directly with clients and their families to provide the best care possible. This collaboration provides youth and families with greater access to mental health support across the state.
Offering more accessible suicide prevention training is another important piece of this collaboration. Connect, a series of suicide prevention trainings was created to educate youth and young adults on how to support their peers. They span a variety of topics including, recognizing warning signs, how to connect individuals with resources, and ethical concerns that may arise when working with clients with mental illness.
“When people become Connect Trainers, they can train school personnel, clinicians, faith leaders, and other community sectors,” says Ward. “This is creating sustainability throughout our communities.”
NHTI utilized these trainings with great success over the past year. After the Connect Young Adult Leader training, students felt prepared to provide support to their peers that may be struggling. The community college also held bonfires and movie nights in an effort to raise awareness and give students a safe place to access resources while having fun.
Over the next two years, the partnering organizations of GLS NHNP 2.0 plan to continue their efforts in reducing the stigma around mental health and suicide, providing trainings, information, and resources across the state, and making help accessible to everyone.
“To have mental illness and suicide be talked about and brought out of the shadows is something our founders could only have dreamed about,” says Stearns. “This will ultimately impact and save lives.”
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Simply call or text 9-8-8 to be connected to a trained counselor. Individuals located in New Hampshire can also call or text NH Rapid Response at 833.710.6477 or chat online at www.NH988.com.