Tony

If I can help someone who’s going through what I went through, I want to help

April

Having mental health challenges is not the defining feature of who I am

Kasie

Tell your story, unashamed, and free yourself from your prison

Jenny

Life is worth fighting for

Ron

We need to keep an eye on each other

Kevin

If you can’t see the light, brother, I will sit with you in the dark

Francesca

I see this illness as part—not all—of who I am

Randall

It’s natural to have strong responses to trauma

John

I believe in the human potential to grow and change

Bangor, Maine

Mental health affects everyone, yet statistics show that stigma continues to be the biggest barrier to individuals seeking care. In 2016, shortly after launching Deconstructing Stigma at Boston Logan Airport, McLean began developing public installations in the United States and abroad, with growing collaborations among New England airports, including Burlington International Airport in Vermont, and now Bangor International Airport in Maine.

Deconstructing Stigma in Maine

The Bangor International Airport has eagerly welcomed McLean to exhibit Deconstructing Stigma, the hospital’s award-winning public awareness campaign, in two different sections of the airport, ensuring maximum exposure to travelers. The exhibit, which has been developed specifically for the airport, features men and women from Maine and beyond who have experienced mental health challenges themselves and in their families.

McLean Hospital and its Deconstructing Stigma team have also forged a partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections (MEDOC) to address mental health stigma concerns among the offender population and the correctional staff. Through exhibits and in-person workshops, this collaboration is working toward addressing the mental health needs of those who are incarcerated, as well as the individuals who serve as corrections officers and personnel. Learn more about our work with the MEDOC.

The volunteers who participate in Deconstructing Stigma in Maine, are sharing their stories to encourage others to seek care and to know they are not alone. They are corrections officers, former military personnel, artists, moms, dads, sisters and wives, brothers, and fathers. While they may have diverse backgrounds, they all have at least one thing in common—they have all been affected by mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it. And all have been brought together as part of Deconstructing Stigma.

Learn more about the Bangor International Airport exhibit.

Facts About Mental Health in Maine

In 2019, nearly one in three (about 18,300) Maine high school students reported feeling sad or helpless for at least two weeks in a row in the previous year; rates have steadily increased from 2011 (23%) to 2019 (32%)
In 2017–2018, more than one in five adults in Maine reported experiencing any mental illness in the past year, with adults between 18 and 25 years old experiencing the highest rate (31%)
In 2019, suicides (269) in Maine were more than 11 times greater than homicides (23). The suicide rate for men was four times higher compared to women, and higher among adults aged 26 to 34
In 2019, one in seven (16%) Maine high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year while 9% reported actually attempting suicide in the past year
Among the students who felt sad or hopeless in the past year, 31% did not seek help, 30% went to friends for help, 17% went to parents/adult relatives, and 4% confided in teachers/school staff
Maine has one of the highest rates of major depressive episodes among 18 to-25-year-olds in the nation. In 2017-2018, 17% (21,300) of Mainers 18 to 25 reported having at least one depressive episode in the past year. Rates have increased by 55% since 2013-2014 (11%)

Source: This data is a product of the Maine State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW). More information.

Get Support

Many organizations throughout Maine offer support and services to individuals and families in need. Find Maine-specific resources.