Scarborough, me – Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foundation today announced a donation of $ 400,000 to help build a strong network of resources for people living with mental illness or mental health issues across New England and New York. Funding includes $ 100,000 to NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness).

“Mental health is integral to the health and well-being of our associates, families and communities. By raising awareness and reducing stigma, we hope that more people will talk about their experiences with mental health or seek help or support, ”said Nicole Devoe-Lewis, Senior Vice President of Retail Operations and Fellow of the Hannaford Charitable Foundation. “We thank the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its dedication to making affordable mental health services more accessible to all.”

The announcement coincides with a period of increased need for mental health resources resulting from the pandemic, which has brought many emotional and physical challenges, including social isolation; illness and death; Job Loss; and feelings of fear and anger.

“The pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of granite staters throughout life, especially in children, young adults and the elderly. It is more important than ever for the Granite Staters to know that they are not alone and that they can find help and hope – the good news is that more and more people are asking for help. ‘help’, said Ken Norton, Executive Director, NAMI New Hampshire. “Thanks to Hannaford’s generosity, NAMI New Hampshire will be able to provide free education and support programs to thousands of individuals, families and communities across the state.

NAMI New Hampshire will use the funding expand access to family and peer supports and increase awareness of resources and information for Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide, including free educational programs and webinars for individuals, families, providers and community members

“Hannaford gave Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide a truly transformational gift. Their leadership in raising awareness of mental health is commendable and will make a lasting difference in many communities, ”said Kristen Welch, Director of Development, NAMI New Hampshire. “We are deeply grateful for their support of NAMI New Hampshire.”

In New Hampshire, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 34 and the fifth among those aged 10 to 14. New Hampshire has gotten worse in recent months – with a record 51 waiting children on February 15, 2021 and a tie for a record 86 total (children and adults) waiting on March 22, 2021.

“NAMI NH has provided me with a platform to speak candidly about my mental illness in a way that allows me to grow and recover. By changing perceptions and stigma of mental illness, NAMI NH helps raise awareness and change attitudes, ”said Todd Donovan, NAMI in our own voice speaker / board member of NAMI NH. “This organization represents the world to me and my family.”

Hannaford associates will recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness by wearing green shirts and ribbons denoting the color associated with mental health awareness throughout the month of May. These in-store efforts will work in conjunction with a month-long awareness campaign designed to give executives and associates the tools they need to identify and manage mental health, wellness and safety as a community. of care.

“For many years, mental health was an afterthought and a discussion not to be shared. Fear of isolation, rejection and lack of understanding kept him in the dark – and as a result, a lot of pain can come from having these discussions indoors, ”said Kenney Charpentier, a partner at Hannaford. “As we take journeys to improve ourselves, however way it may come, the empowerment we now feel from sharing our stories, our struggles, our challenges is far greater than it ever was.” summer.”

Charpentier added: “Knowing that you are not alone you are not the only one with burdens, and you have many more resources and people in your corner rooting you in is a fantastic sense of hope for you. a lot. For Hannaford, getting ahead of these challenges we all face and offering the support, resources and tools to help in many areas of life is a sense of pride – knowing that your business is supporting you in a healthy lifestyle.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American adults suffer from elevated adverse mental health issues associated with Covid-19, including increased depression and anxiety. The CDC also found that the number of adults with recent symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder increased from 36.4 to 41.5 percent; while the percentage of people reporting unmet mental health care needs increased from 9.2% to 11.7% between August 2020 and February 2021.

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Month and NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness), visit http://www.naminh.org/.

Related