Reducing the stigma of mental health

On Monday evening, former Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court, John Broderick, spoke at the Star Theater at the Kittery Community Center. On Tuesday he addressed the students and staff of Traip Academy. His message was powerful and necessary.

Please take a moment to learn more about the REACT Awareness Campaign and how you can recognize the 5 signs of mental illness.

If you didn't have a chance to come to hear him speak, you can watch one of his presentations that is available on YouTube.

R.E.A.C.T. Awareness Campaign

R.E.A.C.T. Take care of yourself. Take care of others. It matters.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock's R.E.A.C.T. Mental Health Awareness Campaign provides students throughout New Hampshire and Vermont with tips to deal with signs of emotional suffering and resources for support and help.
The R.E.A.C.T campaign was developed to provide clear next steps to take when someone sees some, or all, of the five signs of emotional suffering in another person. R.E.A.C.T supplements the Five Signs campaign developed by Barbara Van Dahlen of Change Direction. The idea for the 5 Signs was modeled on the theory that, like knowing the 5 Signs of a heart attack or stroke, we should all know the 5 Signs of emotional distress; and when we see those signs we should take action.
Led by Senior Director of Public Affairs John Broderick, formerly the Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court, and in collaboration with the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the New Hampshire Department of Education, the Vermont Agency of Education and other agencies and civic leaders across both states, Broderick has been reaching out to high school students, educators, parents and professionals to change the conversation on mental health and to help reduce stigma.
Broderick believes that students "have the ability to change the culture and the way mental health is viewed." He wants to spread this message to as many students, educators, parents and professionals as he can.
Watch this video from one of Broderick's talks to students at Mascoma Valley Regional High school in Canaan, NH.
If you are interested in learning more about R.E.A.C.T. or to schedule a presentation at your school, please contact: Karen Borgstrom at Karen.J.Borgstrom@hitchcock.org