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More than 90,000 people in New Hampshire live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals, according to NAMI New Hampshire. (Adobe Stock)

NH backs 988 mental health hotline with local resources

Two years since activation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a new report found New Hampshire could improve resources for the mental health …

Fewer than 30% of New Hampshire eighth-graders were proficient in math between 2019 and 2022. Studies show the lag will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48million pandemic-era students, for a total of $900 billion in lost income. (Adobe Stock)

NH leads in child well-being but chronic absence rates lower test scores

New Hampshire ranks first in the nation for overall child well-being but trauma and pandemic-related learning loss continue to impact students…

The uninsured rate for New Hampshire residents age 65 and older fell 22% - from 6.3% to 4.9% of the population - between 2019 and 2022. But a lack of providers and high-speed internet access has kept many rural seniors from accessing basic care, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH senior health ranks high, community health workers may improve it

A new report ranked New Hampshire as the fourth-healthiest state in the nation for seniors but a lack of home health workers and high-speed internet a…

New Hampshire lacks many of the fundamental gun safety laws enforced in other New England states, including extreme risk protection orders or requirements for concealed-carry permits or background checks on gun buyers. (Adobe Stock)

After NH Hospital shooting, bipartisan bill aims to prevent repeat tragedy

The New Hampshire Senate will vote this week on a bipartisan gun violence prevention bill prompted by last year's deadly shooting at New Hampshire Hos…

An estimated 58,000 family caregivers bear some of the burden of Alzheimer's disease in New Hampshire, providing roughly 84 million hours of unpaid care, according to the Alzheimer's Association of New Hampshire. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH healthcare worker shortage leaves Alzheimer’s patients few options

A health care workforce shortage in New Hampshire is leaving Alzheimer's patients and their families with few options for treatment. Patients facing …

Backers of an updated climate-change curriculum in New Hampshire said it should include how the crisis impacts the state today, including shortened winters and ski seasons, water quality, local agriculture and sea level rise. (Adobe Stock). <br /><br /><br />

NH youth spearhead resolution to improve students’ climate change education

New Hampshire lawmakers are requesting state education officials improve students' understanding of the climate crisis and better prepare them for a g…

Gun safety advocates in New Hampshire are taking unique approaches to reducing the number of guns in their communities, including a Guns to Garden program, which recently accepted more than two dozen unwanted weapons, including an AR-15, and transformed them into tools and jewelry. (Adobe Stock)

NH gun-safety advocates advise services, bipartisan laws after deadly shootings

Gun-safety advocates in New Hampshire are urging Gov. Chris Sununu to back policies proven to reduce gun violence following a series of deadly …

Some of the warning signs of suicide include increased use of drugs or alcohol, talking about wanting to die or talking about being a burden to others. Concerned family and friends are advised to seek help by calling the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or the New Hampshire Rapid Response hotline at 1-833-710-6477.(Adobe Stock)

Annual walk builds support, awareness of suicide prevention

New Hampshire's largest mental health awareness event takes place this weekend and organizers said it is a chance to remind lawmakers mental health ca…

Guns to Gardens volunteers in New Hampshire are working against what are considered among the weakest gun laws in the country. State law does not require background checks on all gun sales, or limit access to firearms by people in crisis. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NH Joins Growing 'Guns to Gardens' Movement

Community volunteers in New Hampshire are turning unwanted firearms into garden tools as part of a nationwide effort to reduce gun violence. Under …

A 2022 report from the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging found that transportation and safe affordable housing have been top concerns for older residents in the state. (Adobe Stock)

NH Ranks Second in Nation for Senior Healthy Living

New Hampshire ranks second in the nation for healthy senior living, according to a new report. United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report measures the …

28% of LGBTQ youth say they've experienced homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives while 14% of LGBTQ youth report being kicked out of their home or abandoned, according to the Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

NH House Rejects Controversial 'Parental Bill of Rights'

Advocates for the LGBTQ community are celebrating following New Hampshire's rejection of a so-called "parental bill of rights." Two Republicans cros…

At least 124 bills have been introduced nationwide this year targeting LGBTQ rights in schools and educational settings, freedom of speech and expression, and access to medically necessary health care for transgender people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students. The legislation requires …

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies rally at the Capitol in Concord in opposition to a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which they say aim to criminalize members of their community.(603 Equality)

Community Members Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in NH

LGBTQ+ advocates rallied at the New Hampshire Statehouse this week in protest of a slate of bills which they say aim to demonize members of their comm…

The New Hampshire Peoples' Budget Coalition is calling on lawmakers to fully invest in public education and reverse investments in the state's Education Freedom Accounts, which the coalition says drains much-needed funding from public schools and downshifts costs to property taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Broad Coalition Urges NH Lawmakers to 'Show Love' in State Budget

A broad coalition of New Hampshire faith and community leaders is calling on state lawmakers to create a budget which serves the people. The New …

More than three million U.S. middle- and high-school students reported current use of any tobacco product in 2022, representing approximately one in six high-school students and one in 22 middle-school students. (Adobe Photo)

Experts: Teens Want to Talk About Risks of Vaping

Today marks the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, an effort meant to encourage those who smoke or vape to quit, especially younger …

A new report finds the number of Granite State children living in single-parent families has risen slightly, from 27% in the years 2008-2012 to 29% in the years 2016-2020. (Kelberpicui/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Hampshire Ranks 2nd for Child Well-Being

New Hampshire ranks second in the country on measures of child well-being, according to the new 2022 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

New Hampshire now has a Rapid Response Access Point that people can call at 833-710-6477 if they need mental-health support. (Kittiphan/Adobe Stock)

NH Officials: Call Rapid-Response Access Point for Mental-Health Emergencies

Social workers are raising awareness about new mobile crisis centers and an Access Point call center now providing 24/7 call, chat or community-based …

In 2019, 24% of New Hampshire children lived in households with high housing-cost burdens, down from 39% in 2010. (zilvergolf/Adobe Stock)

NH Ranks High in Child Well-Being, But Pandemic May Disrupt Gains

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire ranks in the top 10 for overall child wellbeing, but advocates for children and families say that doesn't diminish the …

Narcan, which is available at pharmacy chains in New Hampshire without a prescription, can be used to treat opioid overdoses in emergency situations. (Flickr)

Emergency Responders Urge Continued Focus on Opioid Crisis in NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Some New Hampshire cities saw more drug overdoses in May than they have since before the pandemic, and advocates are urging …

Nearly two-thirds of counties in the U.S. don't have access to a single psychiatrist, and there are even fewer who specialize in working with children. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Share Ways to Help NH Kids Dealing with Trauma

CONCORD, N.H. -- Experts said the pandemic has taken a toll on children's mental health in the Granite State, from social isolation and school …

A global survey found 85% of respondents, all over age 50, felt lonely in 2020, up from 75% of respondents in 2019. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Loneliness, Isolation Take Toll on NH Residents Over 50

CONCORD, N.H. -- Loneliness and social isolation are taking a toll on older folks this winter in New Hampshire. A global survey from SixtyandMe.com …

New Hampshire is one of three states, along with Vermont and Wyoming, that have student-to-counselor ratios as low as 250-to-1 in schools, as recommended by the American School Counselor Association. (Brocreative/Adobe Stock)

Report: More NH Families on Verge of Losing Housing, Food Security

CONCORD, N.H. -- Many New Hampshire kids and their families are struggling with health-care coverage, mental health, housing and hunger due to the …

In a proclamation about suicide prevention, Gov. Chris Sununu included legislative accomplishments this year, from suicide education in schools to help for first responders affected by PTSD. (New Hampshire Governor's Forum/Wikimedia)

NH Observes Suicide Prevention Week

CONCORD, N.H. -- Gov. Chris Sununu signed a proclamation on Thursday in honor of New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Week. The New Hampshire Suicide …

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ordered public schools to close temporarily and switch to remote learning on March 15 in response to COVID-19. (Gabriele L�sser/Pixabay)

NH Child Abuse Calls Drop 50% Because of School Closures

CONCORD, N.H. -- Child abuse reports to the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families hotline have decreased by about half since schools …

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Mental Illness and Links to New Hampshire's Suicide Crisis

CONCORD, N.H. -- Recognizing the ties between suicide and mental health may be key to reducing New Hampshire's high suicide rate, according to mental …

In August 2017, emergency boarding for those having a mental-health crisis in New Hampshire reached a record high, when 72 individuals were waiting for treatment and beds. (Pexels/Pixabay)

Mental Illness, Suicide Prevention Get Funding Boost in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire's suicide-prevention programs report more people are coming forward to share stories about measures that helped …

Overcoming the stigma is one of the first steps for seeking help for Post-Traumatic Stress, and dropping the term

Politicians Share Post-Traumatic Stress Challenges

MANCHESTER, N.H. – How you cope with Post-Traumatic Stress isn't an issue politicians typically cover on the campaign trail. But that's what …

The 2016 National Survey of Children's Health data showed that as many as one in six U.S. children ages 6-17 has a treatable mental-health disorder, such as depression, anxiety or Attention Deficit Disorder. (aafp.org)

NH Retools Mental-Health Plan for Next Decade

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire is taking on children's mental health in a bigger way in the next decade, focusing on earlier intervention and a mobile …

When a mental-health issue is addressed, experts say peer-to-peer mentoring often can have more influence and be less frightening for those ages 18 to 25. (rawpixel/Pixabay)

NH Youths Mentor Peers for Better Mental-Health Outcomes

CONCORD, N.H. – Stigma around substance abuse, mental-health issues and suicide can make those between the ages of 18 and 25 reluctant to share …

New Hampshire faces a shortage of mental-health and drug-abuse professionals. (griefrecoverycenter/Pixabay)

NH Bills Aim to Address Mental-Health Worker Shortage

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire state Senate is expected to pass a bill on Thursday to implement an ambitious, 10-year mental-health plan…

For Roger Carroll, managing editor of The Laconia Daily Sun, writing about his experiences in the New Hampshire mental-health system has prompted an outpouring of community support. (R. Carroll)

NH Editor's Story Highlights Shortage of Psychiatric Beds

LACONIA, N. H. – In New Hampshire, the number of people waiting in hospital emergency rooms for a bed in a psychiatric facility has more than …

Experts say people experiencing mental health challenges, especially across multiple generations, often achieve significant recovery after sharing their stories. (Pixabay/Silviarita)

Study: NH's Mental Illness Rate Low, Access to Care High

CONCORD, N.H. – More than 43 million Americans are suffering from mental illness, but less than half, or 43 percent, receive treatment…

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and increased 25 percent from 1999 to 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Engin_Akyurt/Pixabay)

NH Emphasizes Peer-to-Peer Interaction to Prevent Suicide

CONCORD, N.H. – Suicide rates for individuals younger than 24 have spiked in New Hampshire, and state mental health experts are sharing a …

The latest census shows that more than 16 percent of American children live with a grandparent with no parent present, compared with 5 percent in 1990. (duetaz.org)

Grand-Families Increase Nearly Threefold in 30 Years

CONCORD, N.H. — Most grandparents look forward to an afternoon or weekend with their grandchildren. But a growing number are now raising their …

Affordable Care Act plans must cover pre-existing conditions and 10 essential benefits. (TheShiv76/pixabay)

Health-Care Enrollment Period Ends Saturday

CONCORD, N.H. - Open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act ends this Saturday, but health-care advocates say federal cutbacks …

The staff at AARP New Hampshire is working with state lawmakers to improve home- and community-based caregivers' pay, to help stem a worker shortage in those fields. (AARP NH)

Last Chances to Weigh in on New State Aging Plan

CONCORD, N. H. – People in New Hampshire have a chance to comment on a new State Plan on Aging – but not for much longer. The last …

Statistics show the annual age-adjusted suicide rate nationally is about 13 per 100,000 individuals, but more than 18 in New Hampshire. (pixabay-mohamedhassan)

Suicide Prevention: What Works, What Doesn't?

CONCORD, N.H. – The stigma of mental illness often prevents families from discussing it, which sometimes can increase the chance of suicide…

In 2018, a government study reported that suicide rates rose nearly 50 percent in New Hampshire over a 17-year period. (Pixabay)

NH Mental-Health Experts Promote "Zero Suicide" Campaign

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire mental-health experts believe even one suicide in the state is too many, and that's why they're implementing the "Zero …

Short-term plans can exclude common problems such as injuries from playing organized sports. (pxhere)

Health-Care Advocates Oppose Expansion of "Short-Term" Plans

CONCORD, N.H. — A new health insurance rule is being called another blow to people with pre-existing conditions. On Wednesday, the Trump …

Granite Staters with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diabetes and cancer could lose coverage if the Trump administration wins its new battle. (Marc Nozell, Merrimack, N.H.)

Battle Looms Over ACA's Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage

CONCORD, N.H. – It promises to be a long, bumpy road ahead for the Department of Justice, which essentially is arguing against the Affordable …

Carrie Duran of Wolfeboro says she relies on Medicaid expansion to stay healthy so she can care for her children. (Carrie Duran)

NH House Begins Debate on Medicaid Expansion

CONCORD, N.H. – A House committee will hear testimony on a bill that would reauthorize New Hampshire's Medicaid Expansion program. Rebecca …

New Hampshire leads the nation in overdose deaths per capita from the opioid known as fentanyl. (stubs.org)

NH Suicide-Prevention Advocates Step Up in Opioid Crisis

CONCORD, N.H. — More than 142,000 Americans had so-called "despair deaths" in 2016 - meaning from drugs, alcohol or suicide. But prevention …

Depression, anxiety and self-harm can be early warning signs of a teen at risk of suicide. (TaniaVdB/Pixabay)

NH Workshops to Aid in Preventing Teen Suicide

SEACOAST, N.H. – Two workshops offering training in teen suicide prevention are coming up next month in the Portsmouth area. Suicide is the …

Curbing LGBTQ youth suicide is a major goal of support organizations and some doctors in the Granite State.<br />(PICCSR/flckr).

NH Efforts to Curb LGBTQ Youth Suicide

EXETER, N.H. — Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Granite Staters between the ages of 10 and 34. And efforts are under way to …

Cyber bullies don't take a summer break, and parents can help kids reduce their risks by limiting screen time. (Home of Fixers/Flckr)

No Summer Break for NH Cyber Bullies

MANCHESTER, N.H. – It once happened mostly in schoolyards, but now bullies also launch their attacks on the Web - and those attacks can …

New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Andrew says the state recorded more than 500 opioid overdose deaths in 2016. (Kay Andrew)

Opioid Deaths Spike Again in NH: How Many are Suicides?

CONCORD, N.H. -- New England is in the grips of an opioid drug epidemic, and a medical examiner who's been on the job for two decades says it's hard …

Chris and Bonnie Wade are among the more than 8,000 New Hampshire grandparents raising their grandkids, and they're looking for help from state lawmakers. (Courtesy of Wade Family)

"On Frontline" of Opioid Epidemic, Grandparents Need Lawmakers' Help

CONCORD, N.H. — In a phenomenon driven largely by the opioid epidemic, more New Hampshire grandparents are raising their grandchildren…

Opponents of a measure to repeal the Granite State's concealed carry gun law say it would put public safety at risk. (Moms Demand Action NH)

Objections to Concealed Carry Repeal Measure on "Fast Track"

CONCORD, N.H. – This is the legislative priority? That's what opponents of a measure to repeal the state's concealed carry gun law are asking …

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NH: Mental Health