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Advocate Spotlight: Heather Martin
By Sam Hawkins
Often, when we talk about advocacy, we talk about the power of stories. Indeed, it is stories of lived experience that form the foundation for change in our communities. For policymakers, stories are a window into the lives and realities of their constituency. We all have a story to tell, and sharing your story is one of the most meaningful things you can do: for yourself, for your neighbors, for the entire Granite State community.
There are a multitude of ways you can share your story: you can write a letter, an email, or an op-ed, you can invite your local decision maker out for coffee, you can even testify at a public hearing. The opportunities are near endless— but it can be hard to know where to start.
For Heather Martin, a maternal mental health advocate from Salem, NH, it started with a phone call.
Having lost her only sister to perinatal suicide over a decade prior, maternal mental health had long been close to Heather’s heart.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free 24/7 confidential support, resources and referrals to pregnant and postpartum mothers facing mental health challenges (and their loved ones). Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
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