May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to spotlight mental health and suicide prevention while connecting families with support, resources, and hope. Throughout the month, NAMI New Hampshire is hosting a virtual calendar of statewide happenings, including awareness events, trainings and webinars, advocacy opportunities, and community celebrations. 

Health insurance is confusing. There are so many different terms to learn: copayment, coinsurance, deductible, premium...and so many different insurance companies and plans to choose from. How does one even begin to comprehend all of this?

Well, when you don’t know where you’re going, but you have an end location in mind, you can use navigational tools like a GPS to find your way there. Did you know there are also tools for navigating the complexities of public health insurance? That’s where we come in at NH Navigator.



An initiative of the Foundation for Healthy Communities, NH Navigator’s mission is to offer free and unbiased navigation services for people in New Hampshire looking to obtain public health insurance coverage through the ACA Marketplace and Medicaid. While every day looks a little different, here is a glimpse into what it looks like to assist and educate people about public health insurance options as part of the NH Navigator team. 

New Hampshire Outright is a non-profit dedicated to supporting, protecting, and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth across the Granite State. They are also a community where those young people and their allies can find strength, guidance, and hope. From their roots as Seacoast Outright, they’ve grown into a statewide movement committed to ensuring access to programs, groups and resources for LGBTQ+ young people.

The past few months have brought many challenges, but they have also highlighted the importance of resilience, connection, and community. In uncertain times, coming together and finding support in one another can make all the difference. Though obstacles may arise, there are always pathways forward, and resources available to help us navigate them.

As parents, staying connected is more important than ever. Whether through friends, family, or welcoming spaces in your community, surrounding yourself with support can be a source of strength. Community is a powerful antidote to crisis—it lifts us up when we need it most.

Hope has been my guiding light, and when I struggle to find it within myself, I turn to the people and groups that provide encouragement and inspiration. Whether it’s advocacy work, an uplifting post online, a creative class, or a shared activity, finding ways to connect can bring renewed energy and purpose. No one has to go through this alone—there are always people and places to turn to.

The 7th Annual Magnify Voices Celebration event and art exhibit will take place May 21, 2025 at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H.

Twelve finalists, chosen by a panel of adult and youth judges, will be announced at the event, along with a People’s Choice winner, who will be voted on that evening. Each finalist will receive a $250 cash prize and their artwork will appear in an academic planner.

Musical performances by Jason R. Flood Memorial Pizzastock and Granite State Music Therapy. Registration is required to attend.

Over the years, this initiative of the NH Children’s System of Care has enabled students in fifth through 12th grade to share their voice through art depicting their individual mental health journeys. For many, the contest itself has helped with healing, and for others has become an opportunity for continued advocacy to raise awareness, erase stigma and effect change to help ensure the social and emotional health of youth in the Granite State.

Read the stories from Mia, Erin, Morgan and Abby to learn how they have shined a light on youth mental health.