2025 Mental Health Symposium

Description

New Hampshire Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NHASCD), the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, and Lakes Region Community College are hosting a Mental Health Symposium on May 22, 2025, at LRCC. This event will bring together people in business and education and other community members for a day of education and mental wellness discussion. After a keynote by Justice John Broderick, the event will feature experts in eight different (8) breakout sessions.  The theme of the symposium is "Connection".

In a 2023 Work in America Survey cited by the American Psychological Association, 92 percent said that it was important to them to work for an organization that supports the mental health of their employees and values their psychological well-being. By connecting the participants to experts in the mental health field, information, and other people, participants will walk away from the event with tools, resources, strategies, and people to support the important work that you are doing in your respective roles and communities.

Some of our features speakers are:

• Hon. John T Broderick, Jr - spent 22 years as a trial lawyer and 15 as a judge, including six as chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Upon leaving the bench, he became dean and president of the University of New Hampshire Law School, then launched the Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Policy at the school.
• Mark Belanger -  a member of the NH Behavioral Health Workforce Center team at Dartmouth Health. Mark’s work focuses on the collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, education institutions, and employers to prepare our communities to meet today’s challenges.
• Scott Laliberte - a lifelong educator and a retired school leader, currently working as a leadership consultant and author. He develops programming to support leaders in prioritizing their personal wellness and capacity to work at the outer limits of their ability.
• Jeff Levin - a life coach who specializes in working with teens and adults (20-somethings, parents, coaches, teachers, employers, etc.). Jeff is passionate about his work with young people to reclaim them intangible emotional skills we older folks learned by osmosis.
• Katie Pagnotta - a former school counselor and current mental health therapist and consultant   who believes that all people deserve to learn and work in environments that   are designed with their well-being as a priority. Determined to empower   others, Katie has created accessible resources and tools to bring more joy,   connection, and growth into schools and businesses through her BBARS of   Excellence framework, her book, Empowered by the Human Design, and   her course, Parenting Made Easier.
• Dr. Daisy Pierce has her PhD in Educational Psychology & Learning Sciences from the   University of Colorado Boulder. She is a founding member of Navigating   Recovery of the Lakes Region who began as a community volunteer before being   officially hired as Executive Director.
• Maggie Pritchard - the current President of New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, 
• Joshua Ritson - currently serves as the Prevention Strategies Manager for the Winnipesaukee Rural Public Health Network. He is also actively involved with the Community Advisory Program at New Hampshire Public Radio and serves as the Chairman of the Gilford Budget Committee. In 2024, he was honored with the Adrien Stevens Award for his outstanding leadership and dedication to the community.
• NH Mental Health Peer Support Services Team with Ayla Kimball, Ayla Fraser, Kelly Reynolds, and David Blackman
• Peer Support Training Program Team with Dr. Eileen Glover, Celyne, Corey Gately, and Carissa Elphick.

Register Here