Chair: Steve Boczenowski (boczeno@gmail.com)

Co-Chair: Megan Melanson (Megan.S.Melanson@centene.com)

The Mission of the SOSL Subcommittee is to provide comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss in New Hampshire. We achieve that mission through direct support of individual survivors, through indirect support of survivors by providing support to private support group facilitators, and through the work done by organizations in the state (e.g., NAMI NH, AFSP, NH Healthy Families, Samaritans, etc.)

The SOSL Subcommittee meets on the 4th Monday of each month from 1:00-2:00. Please get in touch with the Chair or Co-Chair for locations of the meetings.

Two opportunities each month to join a conversation

2^nd Friday of every month, 9am-10am on Zoom

Click to register and get the link for Friday Coffee Chats visit: 

Meeting Registration – Zoom

4^th Tuesday of every month, 6pm-7pm on Zoom

Click to register and get the link for Tuesday Coffee Chats visit: 

Meeting Registration – Zoom

The work of the First Responders Committee focuses on preventing suicide and enhancing the quality of life for the professionals in our communities who always offer help when NH residents need them—the first responders. It also works to ensure first responders know how to recognize suicide risk in others, respond effectively, and connect the person to resources. Members of the First Responders Committee are from across the state, representing all first responders and other professionals interested in supporting those working in these fields.

The First Responders Committee hosts a training each year for all first responders to attend and learn about resources and services in New Hampshire that they can recommend to those in crisis or can use for themselves if the need arises. In 2023 the Committee hosted its first training for School Resource Officers to provide information and awareness about suicide risk among youth and the resources available in New Hampshire.

Meetings are held in person twice/year. Please get in touch with the Chair for upcoming meeting dates and locations. Guests and new members are always welcome!

For more information on the NH Suicide Prevention Council – First Responders Committee:

Seth Gahr, Chair, SPC-First Responders Committee

NH State Police

Seth.L.Gahr@DOS.NH.GOV

The work of the Military & Veterans Committee focuses on preventing suicide and enhancing quality of life of Service members, Veterans, and their families. In 2019, the Committee merged its membership with the NH Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families team. This initiative is supported and facilitated by SAMHSA and the VA and continues to be implemented by the Committee.

The Military & Veterans Committee holds meetings on the 1st Wednesday of every month, 2 pm-3:30 pm. Guests and new members are welcome! A meeting calendar and minutes of prior meetings are provided below.

For more information on the NH Suicide Prevention Council – Military & Veterans Committee:

Amy Cook, Co-Chair, SPC – Military & Veterans
NAMI New Hampshire

acook@NAMINH.org

J. Justin Moeling, LICSW; Co-Chair, SPC – Military & Veterans
Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator(CEPC) For Suicide Prevention
Manchester VA Medical Center
(603)203-3641
John.Moeling@va.gov

2024 Meeting Schedule

Business Meetings

In-person meetings with a virtual option for those not able to attend in person. An in-person quorum is required.

2PM-3:30PM

Location: NAMI New Hampshire, Peggy Straw Hall, 85 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301

• February 14, 2024* (*2^nd Wed due to scheduling conflict)
• April 3, 2024
• June 5, 2024
• August 7, 2024
• October 2, 2024
• December 4, 2024

To Join Business Meetings virtually:

https://naminh-org.zoom.us/j/81211902381?pwd=JRgfeXNo5xuHfHPYLa9OmJfyfrCmqH.1

Meeting ID: 812 1190 2381
Passcode: 903488

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81211902381#,,,,*903488# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,81211902381#,,,,*903488# US (New York)

Dial by your location
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 812 1190 2381

Passcode: 903488

Find your local number: https://naminh-org.zoom.us/u/kdB20494ab

Military & Veterans Committee Community of Practice Virtual Meetings

These meetings will be virtual only (no quorum required), topic-specific, often have a guest speaker, topics will vary and will be announced as they are scheduled. 

2PM-3:30PM

• January 3, 2024–topic: Harbor Care presents on their work under the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant
• March 6, 2024—topic: Ask the Question—presentation by DMAVS and facilitated discussion to share how organizations use ATQ
• May 1, 2024–topic: Partnership for Public Health presents insights learned from a statewide Veterans needs assessment they conducted in 2023
• July 3, 2024
• September 4, 2024

To Join Community of Practice Meetings:

https://naminh-org.zoom.us/j/83871368085?pwd=UDE6BhUssdKZMN6JI0B7XN8zRa8y8m.1

Meeting ID: 838 7136 8085
Passcode: 118204

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,83871368085#,,,,*118204# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,83871368085#,,,,*118204# US (New York)

Dial by your location
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 838 7136 8085
Passcode: 118204

Find your local number: https://naminh-org.zoom.us/u/kPTcgr6SS

If you have any questions about the work of the Committee or the meetings, please get in touch with one of the Co-Chairs.

SPC-Military & Veterans Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes from committee meetings can be found at: https://www.dmavs.nh.gov/community-based-military-programs/councils-and-committees/suicide-prevention-efforts

The work of the Policy Committee focuses on preventing suicide and enhancing the quality of life for residents of New Hampshire through the use of activities that influence public policy. The NH SPC believes that our state and local governments have the power to make change and can play an important role in preventing suicide in New Hampshire communities. Public policy and decision-making are influenced by politics, data, and local interests. The Policy Committee facilitates communication and collaboration with policymakers and opinion leaders about suicide prevention through different forms of engagement and messages.

Meetings are held in-person six times each year every other month starting in January on the 3rd Wednesday from 1:00PM-2:00PM. Meetings are hosted virtually via Zoom. Contact the Chair for a virtual link to attend the meetings.

Guests and new members are always welcome!

For more information on the NH Suicide Prevention Council – Policy Committee:

Chair: Holly Stevens, HStevens@naminh.org 

Co-Chair: Emma Sevigny, esevigny@new-futures.org

Chair: Patrick Roberts, NAMI NH – proberts@naminh.org

The Data Subcommittee is focused on improving and expanding suicide data surveillance and analysis in New Hampshire.

Subcommittee goals include:

• Ensuring accurate data on mental health and suicide is readily available to community stakeholders, policymakers, and the general public.
• Expanding the active use of data in planning and decision-making.

Meeting schedule: Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of February, May, August, and October from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Contact Patrick Roberts – proberts@naminh.org for the current meeting location and/or remote access link.

Chair: Mary Forsythe-Taber

Co-Chair: OPEN

The communications committee is focused on ensuring crisp, accurate suicide prevention communication and messaging to the general public. Safe messaging and sharing the latest trends and innovations from the federal level is also a priority of the committee. In addition, the committee supports marketing and communication needs of the other SPC committees. Recent efforts of the committee have been the rebranding and development of a branding guide for the council. In addition, the committee is leading the team, in collaboration with our web development partner Cookson Communications, to develop a website dedicated to suicide prevention for the state of NH.

The communications committee also heads up the development and coordination of the annual NH Suicide Prevention Conference.

Currently, the communications committee virtually meets on the second Wednesday of the month. In 2024 we plan to begin meeting under a hybrid model, allowing those interested in joining the committee or simply attending a meeting to do so either in person or remotely.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86591527384?pwd=MmJhcmVYSFluVU4vYUdSd3Z6NFRBQT09