For Immediate Release 

“SMHC receives $1,000 from Liberty Mutual Group” 

Portsmouth,NH, December 13, 2011—Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) recently received $1,000 from Liberty Mutual Group in support of its Seacoast Community Bridges program. 

Established in 1994, Seacoast Community Bridges pairs volunteers with consumers for non-clinical support, assistance, and friendship based on age, areas of mutual interest, and geographic proximity. 

Noting program demand has steadily increased through the years, Program Coordinator Wendy Segit expressed gratitude for Liberty Mutual Group’s longstanding support. 

“Liberty Mutual Group understands the program and the real value a meaningful friendship can bring to someone’s life,” Segit said. “This support ensures we can continue to offer the kind of monthly programming options—going to a play, for instance—that help provide a rich experience for both volunteers and our consumers.” 

For more information about Seacoast Community Bridges, call (603) 431-6703. 

Founded in 1963, SMHC provides comprehensive psychiatry, counseling, case management and psychological services to all residents located within the eastern half ofRockinghamCounty. 

To learn more about SMHC, visit www.smhc-nh.org.

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For Immediate Release 

“SMHC Awarded Grant from UNH Institute of Disability”

Portsmouth, NH—November 14, 2011—Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) recently received a grant in support of its Career Focus program to help organize and plan a series of Asset Building/Financial Literacy workshops to its clients. 

According to Employment Coordinator Dave Smith, SMHC will work closely with Rockingham Community Action and Northwestern Mutual in what he refers to as “an amazing opportunity.” 

“Within the Career Focus program, we work hard to help clients not just get a job, but secure meaningful employment within an overall career path,” said Smith. “The collaborative nature of this grant will enable us to provide eligible clients with education and resources we could not provide on our own.”

Smith noted the grant’s primary objective is to better connect asset-building resources to state-designated priority populations whom he said are often the most vulnerable.

“It’s great to help clients develop their careers, but it’s even better if we can help them develop their assets to better position them for future financial stability, which research shows can significantly impact their overall health,” said Smith. 

UNH Institute of Disability projects are supported by funds from the Granite State Employment Project,New Hampshire’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant, made possible by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

To learn more about Career Focus or SMHC’s other programs and services, visit www.smhc-nh.org.

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Couture will be honored at Celebration for Mental Health

MANCHESTER — The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester will host the12th Annual Celebration for Mental Health on Monday, October 24, at The Derryfield Country Club in Manchester. Honored that evening will be Jay Couture, the Executive Director of Seacoast Mental Health Center as this year’s recipient of The Center’s Wheelock-Nardi Advocacy Award.

The keynote speaker for the evening will be John T. Broderick, Jr., Dean of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

Couture has more than twenty-five years of progressive experience in New Hampshire’s community mental health system, serving in her current role since 2002. Couture currently serves as President of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association and was an active member of the task force that developed the Ten Year Plan — “Addressing the Critical Mental Health Needs of NH’s Citizens: A Strategy for Restoration.” She was recognized as a most effective advocate for persons affected by mental illness during the recent legislative session.

Couture received her Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Studies and her Masters in Health Administration from the University of New Hampshire. She currently is a member of the Endowment for Health Advisory Council and the UNH Health Management and Policy Advisory Committee.

The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester served nearly 11,000 children, adults and seniors last year. Proceeds from the annual dinner support The Center’s ability to provide discounted and charity care for community members in need. Ticket purchases or table reservations for the 12th Annual Celebration and Dinner can be made by contacting The Center’s Development office at lenanema@mhcgm.org or by calling 603.668.4111 ext. 4117. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for this fundraising event.

For Immediate Release

“Seacoast Mental Health Center to host 12^th Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference”

 Portsmouth, NH—September 13, 2011—Registration is now open for Seacoast Mental Health (SMHC) Center’s 12^th Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference. 

Scheduled for November 4^th at the Community Campus inPortsmouth, this year’s conference is titled “A Walk Through the Peaks and Valleys” and will focus on the various challenges and successes generally associated with mental illness. 

Retired physician Dr. Jane Mountain is this year’s keynote speaker. In addition to authoring two books, she is the founding director of the and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Metro Denver and on the Honorary Board of Mental HealthAmericaofColorado.

Bringing together consumers, family members, community members, and professionals, this conference is the only one of its kind in northernNew England. 

Other scheduled speakers include Concord’s Dr. Alex de Nesnera, SMHC’s Dr. John Miller, Megrette Fletcher, co-founder and director of The Center for Mindful Eating, and others.

Tickets are $25 for consumers/family members/non-professionals and $75 for professionals with 4 Continuing Education Credits (CEU’s). Lunch is included.

Nominations are still being accepted for the annual Erik Cogswell Memorial Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to help improve the lives of people with Bipolar Disorder and other mental illnesses. 

To learn more about the conference, the Erik Cogswell Memorial Award, or to purchase a ticket and register online, please visit www.smhc-nh.org.

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For Immediate Release

“Seacoast Mental Health Center accepting Nominations for Cogswell Award”

Portsmouth, NH—August 25, 2011—Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Erik Cogswell Memorial Award.

Presented annually at the Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference, the purpose behind the award is to recognize an individual for their outstanding contributions to help improve the lives of people with Bipolar Disorder and other mental illnesses. Specifically, the award is given to recipients who “provide hope, education and/or support for those living with mental illness as well as those who care for them and the community at large.” 

Scheduled to take place on Friday, November 4^th at the Community Campus inPortsmouth, this year’s conference theme is “A Walk through the Peaks and Valleys,” which will focus on the highs and lows generally associated with mental illness. Nationally renowned Dr. Jane Mountain will be this year’s keynote speaker. 

For more information about the award or 12th Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference, or to complete a nomination form, please visit www.smhc-nh.org. 

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For Immediate release

Endowment for Health Awards Planning Grant to 5 Mental Health Centers

With funding from the Endowment for Health, five of New Hampshire’s ten community mental health centers are on their way to implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) system. 

SeacoastMentalHealthCenter, Greater Nashua Mental Health Center, Genesis Behavioral Health, Monadnock Family Services and Northern Human Services received a planning grant to support some of the costs associated with an EMR.  The EMR is a critical step in improving the quality of care for patients and contributing to the financial sustainability of a safety net system.  The five centers have worked collaboratively over the past year to purchase a shared EMR and have contracted with Lavender & Wyatt Systems, Inc. ofLittle Rock,Arkansasto implement the project.  The acquisition of the EMR for the five centers is expected to impact behavioral healthcare for over 20,000 children, families, adults and older adults statewide.

“We are so grateful for the Endowment for Health’s support,” said Jay Couture, Executive Director of Seacoast Mental Health Center, “The EMR will allow us to better serve our patients, improve quality of care and communicate more effectively with other providers.  These efficiencies are expected to lead to time and cost savings down the road.”

The support the five centers received from the Endowment for Health comes at a critical time. “Federal regulations require all healthcare organizations to implement an EMR by 2015, yet community mental health was not able to access the stimulus funds made available,” stated Maggie Pritchard, Executive Director of Genesis Behavioral Health, “Without grant funding, we all face significant fiscal challenges in implementing an EMR at our respective centers.”

Implementation of the EMR at the community mental health centers will allow for the smooth exchange of essential health information between mental health and primary care providers.  “We know that individuals living with serious mental illness are at greater risk for co-morbid health disorders, as well as early mortality, dying, on average, 25 years sooner than those in the general population.  The EMR system will allow for better integrated mental and physical health care for our patients, leading to greater longevity and improved quality of life,” according to Dr. Hisham Hafez, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of Greater Nashua Mental Health Center.  “The Endowment for Health’s grant will have a long-reaching positive impact upon the lives of many Granite Staters.”

The Endowment for Health was established in 1999. Since 2001, the Endowment has awarded more than 800 grants totaling more than $33 million to support a wide range of health-related programs and projects in New Hampshire. For more information about proposal guidelines and funding priorities for the 2011 program year, visit www.endowmentforhealth.org.

The five community mental health centers involved in this project are part of the NH Community Behavioral Health Association, an organization comprised of the ten community mental health centers throughout New Hampshire.  These centers serve individuals in our state who are living with—and recovering from—mental illness and emotional disorders.  This network of mental health centers provide ongoing and emergency behavioral health services to over 52,200 New Hampshire residents annually, a number that includes over 13,500 children.

For Immediate Release

“Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) receives $750 from Rotary Club of Portsmouth”

Portsmouth,NH, August 1, 2011—SeacoastMentalHealthCenterrecently received $750 in support of its Assessment and Crisis Team (ACT) program. 

Providing emergency phone and face-to-face assessment and crisis intervention to people of all ages in active crisis situations, 24 hours/7 days a week, ACT took more than 2,500 crisis calls and saw more than 1,300 people in the past fiscal year.

According to SMHC Executive Director Jay Couture, the awarded money will help subsidize ACT services rendered to underinsured and uninsured walk-in patients.

“We are thankful the Rotary Club of Portsmouth recognizes the importance of our work through this core program at the Agency,” she said. “This award ensures we can continue to offer people the highest level of mental health care when they need it the most.”

Founded in 1963, SMHC provides comprehensive psychiatry, counseling, case management and psychological services to residents in the eastern half ofRockingham County,New Hampshire.

To learn more about ACT or SMHC’s other services, visit www.smhc-nh.org or www.facebook.com/smhcnh.

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For Immediate Release

“Seacoast Mental Health Center and New Hampshire Art Association to host Art of Recovery Celebration Kick Off Event”

Portsmouth, NH, June 2, 2011—Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) and the New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) will host a Kick-Off Event for the First Annual Art of Recovery Celebration on Thursday, June 23rd at the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. in Portsmouth.

Celebrating art and the positive role creativity plays in the recovery process, the Art of Recovery Celebration will feature “teams” of NHAA members and individuals from the SMHC community. Together, these teams will collaborate through 2011 and into 2012 to create artwork that will be displayed and sold at the May 2012 Art of Recovery Event and Auction.

At this Kick Off Event, the participants will be introduced and samples of their original artwork will be shown.

According to SMHC Executive Director Jay Couture, the use of the recovery concept acknowledges “everyone has had challenges to overcome in their lives.”

“Whether it’s a mental illness, the loss of a loved one, or a change in life circumstances, the point is people can and do recover,” she said. “The Art of Recovery Celebration highlights the fact that creativity and an open mind are critical to this recovery process.”

Katherine Muth, NHAA’s new executive director, expressed excitement regarding the collaboration.

“This is very exciting on a number of different levels,” said Muth. “First, this collaboration will help produce amazing art and highlight the talents of many creative people. I’m also very pleased to be working with SMHC. I believe we are forming a true partnership that will benefit both organizations.”

Proceeds from the Art of Recovery Celebration will benefit both SMHC and NHAA.

In addition to the Kick-Off Event, mini-showings of selected works in progress will take place at the NHAA gallery.

At the Kick Off Event, hors d’ouevres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at www.smhc-nh.org.

For more information, or to become a corporate sponsor, call (603) 957-5743, or email artofrecovery@smhc-nh.org.

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For Immediate Release

“NH Governor John Lynch visits Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC)”

Portsmouth, NH, 4/26/11—On Wednesday, April 20th, NH Governor John Lynch met with clinical and administrative staff at Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) to discuss the agency’s community mental health services and how they would be affected by proposed budget cuts.

According to Nike Speltz, SMHC board president, the meeting provided staff with the unique opportunity to discuss the complex nature of community mental health services and the critical need for continued funding.

“While SMHC addresses immediate needs, a significant portion of those we work with require ongoing support and medication and their care could involve therapists, psychiatrists, supported employment specialists, and case managers,” said Speltz. “The term, community mental health services, means we’re in schools, health care centers, and in the home.

Noting Governor Lynch requested to meet with staff to learn more about their work and concerns, Speltz expressed gratitude for his time.

“The staff and board very much appreciate Governor Lynch’s support for the Community Mental Health system statewide and his demonstration of interest in the community mental health services we offer through SMHC to nearly 5,000 individuals and families each year,” she said.

If proposed cuts to the current budget were passed, SMHC Executive Director Jay Couture said services would be reduced or eliminated for nearly 1,700 current SMHC clients, 1200 adults and 500 children.

“This is very serious, because there are no other organizations like SMHC serving the 24 towns of eastern Rockingham County,” Couture said. “Our goal it to help individuals live independently as contributing members of our community. The proposed budget cuts jeopardize the well-being of everyone in the state.”

Jodie Lubarsky, director of SMHC’s Children, Adolescent and Family Services department, estimates that without access to SMHC services, many current SMHC clients would eventually require hospitalization at some point.

“Many of the people we see require ongoing support, but with effective treatment they can lead rich, fulfilling lives,” she said. “If we were to deny them service, their condition would only worsen and the likelihood for recovery would be severely diminished.”

Founded in 1963, SMHC provides comprehensive psychiatry, counseling, case management and psychological services to residents in the eastern half of Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

To learn more, visit www.smhc-nh.org.

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For Immediate Release

“Seacoast Mental Health Center asking for support for Rally for New Hampshire”

Portsmouth, NH, March 23, 2011—Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) is asking for people to join them in next week’s “Rally for New Hampshire” at the State House in Concord on Thursday, March 31st at 12p.m.

According to SMHC Executive Director, the purpose behind the rally is to make state legislators aware the proposed budget cuts “do not reflect the best interests of New Hampshire’s citizens.”

“If the proposed cuts are implemented, nearly 8,000 children and adults who currently receive necessary care for their severe mental illness or serious emotional disorder will no longer be able to access the care they need,” said Couture.

Dozens of agencies from across the state have agreed to take part in next week’s rally and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individuals are also expected to attend.

For more information, or to send a letter to your town’s State Representative, email statehouserally@smhc-nh.org.

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