As June is recognized as PTSD awareness month, it is important to bring awareness to the Maine men and women who fought for their home and country. For this week's episode of NAMI Maine Talks, we were able to speak with the Executive Director of Vet 2 Vet Maine, Maggie Catanese.

Vet 2 Vet Maine is a non-profit organization that serves the veteran population of Maine. Matching veterans with other local volunteer veterans, Vet 2 Vet provides support, companionship, and links to services across the state.

Learn about the work that Vet 2 Vet has done to help fight social isolation and loneliness among our veterans. You’ll hear about the process to become a veteran volunteer, stories of success, and even how their organization is able to stretch from Presque Isle to Kittery. All this and more on NAMI Maine Talks!

Host:

Tori Tracy, Sr. Manager of CIT Partnerships and Education

Guests:

Maggie Catanese, Executive Director of Vet 2 Vet Maine

Links:

Check out the work of Vet 2 Vet Maine: https://www.vet2vetmaine.org/

Looking to get involved as a veteran: https://www.vet2vetmaine.org/join-vet2vet-maine

Check out NAMI Maine's guide to caring for your veteran: https://namimaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Guide-to-Support-Your-Veteran.pdf

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, join NAMI Maine’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Jill Henderson, as she talks about The Mental Edge Softball Camp with its founder, Oakley McLeod. Created in 2024, Oakley has organized this event to bring mental health awareness to youth softball players across the state. Her work has gained attention statewide, and this year the camp welcomed over 200 softball players.

Host:

Jill Henderson, Director of Marketing and Communications

Guests:

Oakley McLeod, Founder of Mental Edge Softball Camp

Links:

Learn more about Mental Edge Softball Camp: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579289657434

Check out Oakley in the news: https://www.wmtw.com/article/scholar-athlete-of-the-week-oakley-mcleod/71312315

Check out NAMI Maine’s Youth Resources: https://namimaine.org/youth-ed-resources/

Hashtags:

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI, #Softball

We all appreciate walking through gardens during the summer, but did you know gardening is a form of therapy for many people? In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, learn about the practice of Horticulture Therapy. Featuring Garron Dorr from the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, he’ll break down what Horticulture Therapy means and the benefits it brings to so many! You’ll also learn more about the work that the Maine Botanical Gardens does to make gardening accessible to everyone!

Host:

Ambrose Ward, Marketing and Media Specialist

Guests:

Garron Dorr, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Horticultural Therapist

Links:

Check out more from The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: https://www.mainegardens.org/

Plan your next visit: https://www.mainegardens.org/visit/plan-your-visit/

Check out the American Horticulture Therapy Association: https://www.ahta.org/

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, take a trip back in time to learn about the historical figure, Nellie Bly. As an investigative journalist, Nellie Bly faked mental unrest to be admitted to an insane asylum, so that she could bring to light the horrid conditions that patients were subjected to.

Host:

Ambrose Ward, Marketing and Media Specialist

Delaney Ireland, Programs Coordinator

Links:

Learn more about Nellie Bly’s story here: https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/590464/nellie-bly/

Learn more from the National Women’s History Museum: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/nellie-bly-0

Hashtags:

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI

April is Counselling Awareness Month, so for this week's episode, we were able to sit down with members of the Maine Mental Health Counselors Association to learn more about counselling! Our guests delve into the work they do as counsellors and how MEMHCA works to encourage collaboration and support for developing and current counsellors. You'll also learn about the history of counselling and its roots in the world of mental health!

Host:

Ambrose Ward, Marketing and Media Specialist

Guests:

Alexander Katopis, MEMHCA Membership Chair

Jordan Shaw, 2026 MEMHCA President Elect

Links:

Learn more about MEMHCA - https://memhca.org/

Check out the National Chapter - https://www.amhca.org/home

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, our Suicide Prevention Director, Mary Gagnon, sits down with Gordon Smith of the Maine OPTIONS Program to discuss substance use and its impact on families and communities. You’ll learn about the creation of the OPTIONS program and the work their liaisons do across the state. You can also learn about the use of Naloxone to save the life of someone during an overdose. Make sure to check out the great work of the OPTIONS program, and the work professionals are doing to reduce harm and prevent overdose.

Host:

Mary Gagnon, Director of Suicide Prevention

Guests:

Gordon Smith, Director of Opioid Response, The OPTIONS Program

Links:

Learn more about the OPTIONS Program: https://knowyouroptions.me/

Find out more about Naloxone, and where to get it: https://knowyouroptions.me/get-naloxone/

Learn about the OPTIONS program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0LhJcnrXPw

Check out upcoming NAMI Maine events: https://namimaine.org/events/

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, learn about the Magic of Social Work with Maine’s resident wellness wizard, Conjuring Carroll! Join NAMI Maine’s Deputy Director, Libby Wright, as she sits down with Conjuring Carroll to learn about his work tying together magic and social work.

Working to strengthen communities and empower those within them, Conjuring Carroll is a public speaker who uses magic to amplify his messages of belonging and mental well-being! He was a great guest and brought to light the important role that Social Workers play in our state.

Host:

Libby Wright, Deputy Director

Guests:

Carroll Chapman (Conjuring Carroll)

Links:

Check out the Magic of Conjuring Carroll: https://www.conjuringcarroll.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQubBFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrMElvYzlpUUZJcTNqR0NDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmnFlLAnArX5jBioHWspiPIMKVO6mcErfJXvyWXnh6xH0adnhAmgZRxdvzPs_aem_1NIvGlTCbhaArALApPI5X

Learn more about Carroll’s work and see his updates here: https://www.facebook.com/ConjuringCarroll/

Learn about ways to celebrate National Social Workers Month: https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Social-Work-Month

Check out NAMI Maine resources: https://namimaine.org/

Hashtags:

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, join Ambrose and Libby as they sit down to talk with the Executive Director of Maine Youth Thriving, Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino! Learn about the work that Maine Youth Thriving does around the state. Hoping to foster positive change in Maine, MyT works to highlight youth voices to help build strong and supportive communities. MyT also works to encourage care for the adults who serve the state's youth!

Hosts:

Libby Wright, NAMI Maine Deputy Director

Ambrose Ward, Marketing and Media Specialist

Guests:

Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino, Executive Director of Maine Youth Thriving

Links:

Check out Maine Youth Thriving: https://maineyouththriving.org/

Find out more about Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino: https://drdelvina.com/

Learn about the Mattering Cabins with Maine Cabin Masters: https://maineyouththriving.org/event/%f0%9f%8c%b2-crafting-mattering-a-family-event-for-maines-mattering-cabinsLearn more about NAMI Maine: https://namimaine.org/

Check out NAMI Maine’s youth resources: https://namimaine.org/youth-ed-resources/

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI, #YouthMentalHealth, #OnMyMind