Changing the Conversation Around Mental Health in N.H.

State leaders recently joined the medical and mental health community to launch  "Change Direction NH," part of a national initiative to raise awareness of mental health disorders and  eliminate the stigma around these issues.  Long considered an afterthought to physical well being, mental health has gained recognition as having equal importance, although it's still not easy for many to discuss or seek help. Change Direction NH attempts to fix that, promoting awareness of the signs of mental illness.  Still, challenges remain, including access to treatment.  

GUESTS:

• John Broderick,  co-chair of Change Direction NH, former Dean of UNH School of Law and  former Chief Justice of the N.H. Supreme Court.
• William Torrey, psychiatrist with  Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and vice chairman of clinical services for the Department of Psychiatry at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
• Barbara Van Dahlen, clinical psychologist, national founder of Change Direction, a national initiative that promotes awareness of the signs of mental illness and openness in discussing mental health issues. 

We'll also hear from Ken Norton, executive director of the NAMI-NH, the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance On Mental Illness.

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

• Read more about the Change Direction campaign in New Hampshire
• Learn the five signs of mental illness
• Read NHPR's report about the Change Direction event on Monday at the Statehouse.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

CALLER: part of the challenge in addressing #mentalillness is that it's not visible like a broken leg is https://t.co/Xcb4Gcsr7g— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) May 24, 2016