Mental illnesses and their treatments are largely invisible. Here in Concord, however, Riverbend is the face of mental illness for far too many people in our community. Concord area residents may drive by our Community Support Program - Pillar House - which provides services for 500 adults with a serious and persistent mental illness and retain an image of people at different stages of their recovery from mental illness.

This is one of the many facets that is Riverbend, and there are many faces that we serve. One in five of us will experience a mental health illness in our lifetime. The faces of mental illness are all too familiar - our colleagues at work, our neighbors, family and friends.

Riverbend's Children's Intervention Program (ChIP) supports over 700 children and families every year with all levels of need, from modest behavioral issues to heart-wrenching depression, using the latest evidence-based practices. These include "trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy" to treat such things as experiences of abuse and neglect to specialized socialization groups for children with Asperger's disorder to the latest medications for depression and anxiety provided by a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Nurse.

Innovation is key to Riverbend's mission as we always look to improve our services. Our "In Shape" program, based on the original In Shape model of Monadnock Family Services in Keene, helps people with mental illness get active, improve their nutrition and lose weight. Data - and our own experience - tells us that people with chronic mental illness die over 20 years sooner than the general population due to the effects of medication and lifestyle. We are seeing promising outcomes: better health and improved self-esteem. Let one of our consumers tell you more.

We provide quality services because of the expertise and commitment of our highly trained staff. We are usually the first to be called in an emergency. We keep our community safe through our outstanding staff at the Concord Hospital Emergency Department, the busiest in the state of NH. In partnership with Concord Hospital, we see as many as 30 adults, youth and children every day. Here in the Emergency Department, individuals and families in crisis receive urgent evaluation and care, helping ensure that a crisis is resolved and follow-up care is provided.

Because mental illness is invisible, too many people suffer needlessly when proven treatments are available. Too many people wait for an emergency to seek help. If you know someone who could benefit from treatment, please urge them to see a professional. As we all know too well, "There is no health without mental health."

Louis Josephson, Ph.D.