January 2025

From the Corner Office

~Maggie Pritchard

What better time of year to talk about snowflakes than in January? Simply put, a snowflake is a single ice crystal that falls through the atmosphere as snow. However, snowflakes are much more complicated than that. They are made up of many small crystal facets that scatter sunlight, making snow appear white. Each one is distinctly unique and different, and its shape and size depends on the temperature and water vapor in the atmosphere. A snowflake is one of the most beautiful acts in nature. Again- what seems simple on the surface is often more complex.

What we do at a community mental health center may seem simple to some- we treat people with mental health and substance use disorders. The complexity of our work lies in the fact that all of us are as unique and complicated as a snowflake. What works for one person may not work for the next, and the understanding of behavioral health diagnoses, symptoms, and treatments is not widely understood or appreciated.

There’s been a tidal wave of messaging that everyone is special, and to make it the norm. Every team gets a trophy, and every player wins a prize, recognizing the contribution of all. As a parent, I often struggled to explain to my children how they were special, but maybe that isn’t what makes a difference. Not being the best every time (i.e. failure), can be a powerful lesson and is how people develop, learn, grow, and change.

I hope we can stop and think about a snowflake, and accept and appreciate that being unique and complex is a gift we are all given. At our community mental health center, we will remember the lesson of the snowflake, offering grace and care to all those who walk through our doors, celebrating uniqueness every day.

- Maggie

5K Save the Date

We are so grateful to Nucar of Tilton who has agreed to be the title sponsor of our first annual 5K in May- recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Mont h. This event will help raise awareness in our region and all profits benefit LRMHC.

The 5k committee will focus in the coming weeks on gaining additional sponsors, event logistics, and participant registration.

A free Kids Fun Run will take place at 8:00 am, in partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Lakes Region. Children up to age 11 are welcome to participate.

PLEASE HELP by spreading the word! We would love to see staff and their families run, walk, roll, or volunteer!

Please email development@lrmhc.org with questions or if you want to be involved.

5K Sponsorship Opportunities

Become a Sponsor

VOTE: Favorite Winter Activity

Skiing

Making a Snowman

Snowmobiling

Skating

Curling up with a book INDOORS

Fall Poll Results: Cranberry Sauce is the most popular Thanksgiving dish in our staff community.

Fundraising Update

We are so pleased with the support received during our #GivingTuesday and Year-End Appeals. "The Gift of Celebration" funds are earmarked for Passage House residents.

In partnership with Lakes Region Community Developers, we surpassed the fundraising goal to fully furnish Bay Street Apartments with a total of $46,700!

Grants Update

In December, LRMHC was fortunate to receive grant awards from The Dobles Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Endowment for the Arts, Granite United Way, and Youthwell NH. Look for more information about these grants in upcoming press releases!

Program Updates

Child & Family Success Story

A teen in their senior year of high school has worked hard over the past 2 years on the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms that led to school avoidance and social setting disruptions. With their clinician, they engaged in EMDR and exposure therapy and is now expected to graduate early! With the support from the C&F team, they applied and was recently accepted to college- an amazing accomplishment that was unthinkable just a few months ago.

Acute Services

A Place to Go in Plymouth will open in late January.
The Acute Services team is continuing to increase operational efficiency through reporting data and updated assessment protocols.

Child & Family

Child & Family & Acute Service's presented in December at the Youth Protection Symposium to organizations around the state about mental health supports and services available through CMHCs following a critical incident.
School-based therapy is active in Newfound High School, Rumney K-8 (Russell Street School), Campton Elementary K-8, Laconia HS and MS, Gilford HS and MS.

Community Support Program

Welcomed new staff in both Laconia and Plymouth locations.

Neurological Treatment

Patients are enjoying the Navigating Life Changes group. Interested in the group? Contact your clinician or case manager.
Community Education events will be announced on our website and on our digital signs in our waiting areas.
Two patients are in the last phase of the Critical Time Intervention program, currently doing well and engaging with their support and treatment teams.

Residential Services

Passage House was able to provide some great holiday celebrations for residents due to the support of our community!

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

January 20th: Our country honors Martin Luther King. Several Laconia events honor MLK and his legacy, noted in the above image.

January 27th: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Social Media Image Descriptions

Have you noticed the addition of Image Descriptions (ID) at the bottom of our posts these past several months? IDs are an accessibility best practice to ensure users with visual impairments; developmental disabilities and/or those who use screen readers can fully engage.

According to Section508.gov "Accessible social media content is crucial for fostering inclusivity and ensuring equal participation for all individuals, regardless of ability."

Many disability organizations here in NH share content in similar ways, including ABLE NH, the UNH Institute on Disability, and filmmakers Dan & Samuel Habib. To the left is an example of how this practice was used in their recent film tour. (Fun fact: our new marketing consultant is a former employee of both UNH IOD and Dan Habib.)

In the spirit of our core value diversity, this is a step we've taken to align with best practices. We will continue to add more accessibility features in our digital communications as we learn about them, but we are happy to have started the process.

A helpful resource for anyone wishing to work towards more accessibility in their posts, check out https://www.section508.gov/create/social-media/