2025 Champions for Mental Health – Nominations Open!

Call for Nominations
19th Annual Champions for Mental Health Awards
Riverbend Community Mental Health

Champions have expanded training opportunities, provided essential clinical services, worked with legislative or community partners to change policy, and shared stories that grew recognition of the importance of mental health.

For Riverbend, a Champion for Mental Health is an individual who:
• Advocates for greater access to mental health services;
• Contributes extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improving the lives of people with mental illness; and/or
• Publicly gives voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that surround the disease.

Honor those making a difference in the mental health of our local communities – alleviating hardships, serving as an ally, educating or raising awareness, or helping those with addictions or mental illnesses. Winners are honored each fall at Riverbend’s Champions for Mental Health awards ceremony, where members of the public, business leaders, public officials and other interested community members come together in an evening of celebration. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, October 7 at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord. 

Previous winners include:

• John Barthelmes, former Colonel, New Hampshire State Police
• The Hon. John Broderick, Jr., former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
• John and David Constant, Constantly Pizza (Concord)
• Gretchen Grappone, LICSW, training consultant and clinician
• Lucy C. Hodder, Professor of Law
• Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster
• Brielle Paquette, advocate for children’s mental health
• Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety

And many more!

Make your nomination today.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 6, 2025. 
(NOTE: Current Riverbend Employees and Board members are not eligible for the award. Champions must live or have spent significant time working on the issue of mental health in Merrimack County or in Riverbend’s 30-community catchment area).

Questions? Contact: development@riverbendcmhc.org