SPECIAL EVENT: The Paradise Paradox Film Screening & Community Conversation Posted on April 17, 2024April 24, 2024 Bode Miller-produced documentary film shines light on mental health in “paradise” As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, Riverbend Community Mental Health will host a film screening and panel presentation for “The Paradise Paradox” – a documentary film screening for the first time in New Hampshire. The film chronicles a concerning issue: the community mental health challenges facing many of America’s mountain resort towns. Isolation, inadequate resources, substance abuse and social stigmas are all contributing factors. “The Paradise Paradox” takes a closer look at how mental health providers, outdoor recreation professionals, and law enforcement are working together to create innovative solutions. Olympic gold medalist – and New Hampshire native – Bode Miller is an executive producer of the film. The film screening will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at Red River Theatres in Concord. Immediately after, a community conversation will take place with local experts, including: Sarah (Baillargeon) Gagnon, VP of Clinical Operations at Riverbend Community Mental Health Suzanne Gaetjens-Olesen, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Human Services Caite Zeliff, professional ski athlete and New Hampshire native (appearing by video) John Brown, 40+-year veteran of the New Hampshire Region of the National Ski Patrol (Ragged Mountain Resort, Danbury, NH), and a retired firefighter Stef Costello, Patrol Director, Pats Peak Ski Area (Henniker, NH); Firefighter Paramedic (Town of Henniker) Members of the public are invited to view the film and participate in the community conversation following the screening. Tickets can be purchased here. “Bringing this film to new audiences will allow us to highlight this specific, if not necessarily well-known, aspect of mental health. While the film focuses on resort areas in the West, New Hampshire has a deep culture of mountain sports and recreation that lends an interesting contrast and some food for thought,” said Lisa K. Madden, president & CEO of Riverbend Community Mental Health. “We are grateful to convene this conversation with other experts and partners who will share their stories and learnings with the wider community, all in the interest of raising awareness and providing help.” Mental Health Awareness Month, first established in 1949, is held in May each year to recognize the importance of mental health, raise awareness of wellness in the lives of Americans, and celebrate those who have recovered from mental illness. Riverbend will mark this important commemoration through events reaching the general public, key stakeholders, and staff. “Everyone has mental health! Mental Health Awareness Month is about recognizing the importance of mental health in all of our lives, all of the time,” said Madden. Riverbend’s other events related to Mental Health Awareness Month include: Mental Health First Aid: Riverbend Community Mental Health is proud to offer low-cost Mental Health First Aid training to interested members of our community. The skills-based training course – from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing -teaches people how to understand and respond to someone who is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenge. The course costs $60 (course materials and certification) and is limited to 25 participants. Interested parties can register online here. Author talk: Riverbend will host a lunch and learn for its children’s program staff and community partners, speaking with activist and author Erik Talkin about the issue of food insecurity and mental health. EVENT DETAILS: The Paradise Paradox When: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 6:30 – 7:45 – Film screening 7:45 – 8:30 – Panel discussion/Community Conversation Where: Red River Theatres 11 South Main Street Concord, NH 03301 Tickets: For tickets, register here. ### Riverbend Community Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Nearly 8,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; and community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit www.riverbendcmhc.org, or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or LinkedIn.
