Magnify Your Voice for Mental Health |
An initiative of CSoC, Magnify Voices Expressive Art Contest is raising awareness, erasing stigma, and effecting change to help ensure the social and emotional health of youth in the Granite State. The 2024 contest is now accepting submissions through April 21 from students in fifth through 12th grade. These art submissions can take many forms to express their experiences and connections to mental health.
"Magnify Voices has helped me build my confidence, build connections with like minded people, and reach a bigger audience, " said Marena.
"Magnify Voices not only gave me a space to reflect on my own mental health experiences, but, winning the contest expanded and deepened my platform of spreading hope and suicide prevention tools to a multitude of audiences. It is because of Magnify Voices I have spoken to thousands of people regarding mental health, have met numerous influential figures in the mental health world, and have found my own place within it," said Erin.
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Summer Camp Applications Now Open |
The goal for New Hampshire students is that they return to learning in the fall with rekindled curiosity, rejuvenated energy, excitement and anticipation.
The New Hampshire Department of Education is partnering with New Hampshire camps and school-age summer programs across the state to offer students the unique opportunity to move beyond COVID-19 and be a kid again by offering up to $775 in camp fees covered at participating camps only.
Students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities benefit from exposure to short-term summer enrichment programs, including in the areas of challenge, friend-making, positivity, and emotional safety. These are all things that New Hampshire camps and school-age programs do best.
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Children’s Resiliency Retreat |
The 20 kids arriving at the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley in Milford on a bright Saturday morning in October look like a typical youth recreation club excited for a day of games, crafts, pizza and a hike. Settling down for a group breakfast, they chatter about Halloween plans and costumes and catch up with their friends.
Over the course of the day, these members of the Children’s Resiliency Retreat will also share updates on their families and home lives: Parents in prison for drug- and alcohol-related offenses. Parents whose substance use disorders mean that many of these children are being raised by grandparents and other relatives (some have lost parents to overdose). After-school jobs they’ve taken so that they can buy clothes and other essentials. Their fears that a parent might suffer a relapse.
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NAMI NH Conference Cultivating Hope |
The 2024 NAMI NH Annual Conference will be held virtually on Tuesday evening, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. This year’s theme is Cultivating Hope – Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes. The conference is an opportunity to come together to learn, network and communicate messages of hope. Keynote speakers are Dr. Xavier Amador, Founder, LEAP Institute, and Dr. Christine Crawford, Associate Medical Director, NAMI National. The welcome session will feature Susan Stearns, Executive Director, NAMI NH, and Lori Weaver, Commissioner, NH Department of Health and Human Services.
NAMI NH encourages parents/caregivers of children and youth with mental health challenges, loved ones of adults with a mental illness, military families, peer recovery professionals, those who have lost a loved one to suicide, families and individuals who are struggling with co-occurring disorders and the service providers who support recovery efforts in New Hampshire, and anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the importance of mental health to attend this free conference.
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Parenting Resources for Substance Use Among Youth |
Our world of constant stimulation, accessibility, and immediacy has created more difficulties with parenting and understanding adolescents’ needs today, particularly concerning substance use and addictive behaviors.
There seems to be a shift in parenting attitudes as our children age – tolerance and patience diminish while expectations of our adolescents increase. If we can provide adolescents with similar levels of understanding and compassion extended to younger children, we create more opportunities for them to feel safe, and recognize that their parents can be trusted adults. This leaves more space for them to share their challenges and stressors – including if they are engaging in substance use – and to seek guidance around it.
It is essential to be aware of the signs and risks, and to acknowledge your own beliefs around substance use. Important strategies for parents include understanding your adolescent’s social circle; engaging in ongoing conversations about mental health and substance use; and working to communicate effectively with your adolescent.
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2023 Magnify Voices Artwork Roadshow
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Check out 2023 Magnify Voices artwork on display at a location near you:
March at the Belknap Mill in Laconia - Built in 1823, the Belknap Mill is the oldest, unaltered brick textile mill in the United States.
April 9 at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester as part of the YouthWellNH.org event celebrating youth empowerment, mental health awareness, and community engagement
May at the Kingston Public Library in Kingston.
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Children's System of Care | NHCSoC.org
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