Keith

I’ll never be cured, but I’m so happy to be alive

Sarah

Staying well is a lifelong process

Evan

I was scared to say how I was really doing

Lisa

My illness is part of me, but it isn’t all of me

Brittany

It’s okay to not be okay

New Hampshire

While mental health challenges impact every family, statistics show that stigma continues to be among the biggest barriers to individuals seeking care.

Shortly after launching Deconstructing Stigma (DS) at Boston Logan Airport, McLean began developing public installations in the United States and abroad, with growing collaborations among New England airports.

Thanks to the commitment and determination of colleagues throughout New Hampshire, McLean has been able to bring DS exhibits to the Granite State.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

While seeking ways to improve attitudes about mental health in her community, Kate Sullivan reached out to McLean on behalf of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association in late 2022, hoping to determine how we could partner to improve the way mental health is seen in her home state of New Hampshire.

Thanks to Kate’s willingness to investigate potential partners, a meeting with airport leadership quickly turned into Deconstructing Stigma finding a home in a highly trafficked area of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in May 2023.

The exhibit, which has been developed specifically for the airport, features residents of New Hampshire, as well as people from across the U.S. and from around the globe.

These volunteers choose to share their mental health experiences as part of Deconstructing Stigma with the goal of encouraging compassion, elevating understanding, and empowering people who may be struggling with their own mental health challenges to seek care.

Learn more about the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport exhibit.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

As much as McLean’s education team is passionate about bringing Deconstructing Stigma into public spaces, we also know that reducing stigma for existing patients and for health care providers is equally as important.

With this in mind, the team was incredibly excited to hear from Marianne Barthel about the potential to bring Deconstructing Stigma to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Marianne, who oversees arts and humanities for DHMC, was hoping to bring DS to the hospital in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Thanks to Marianne’s hard work, a portable exhibit was installed to encourage both patients and staff to encourage compassion not only for others who may be struggling but also for ourselves.

Learn more about the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center exhibit.

Why New Hampshire?

The volunteers who participate in Deconstructing Stigma in New Hampshire are sharing their stories to encourage people from their communities to seek care and to know they are not alone. DS volunteers are people just like you: moms, dads, sisters and wives, brothers, daughters, and sons.

While they may have diverse backgrounds, they all have at least one thing in common—they have all been affected by mental health challenges and the stigma that surrounds it. And all have been brought together as part of Deconstructing Stigma.

Get Support

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