Category: Q&A

NAMI NH names new executive director

The National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire chapter welcomed Susan Stearns as its new executive director last month. Stearns discussed the position and how she plans to lead NAMI NH in addressing the state’s mental health care needs. You can reach the NAMI resource line at 1-800-242-6264.

What is your background in this type of work?

I’ve worked in the nonprofit field all of my adult life in New Hampshire, and I’ve been working in mental health for the last 20-plus years. Truthfully, I have stayed in this line of work, being an advocate for people with mental illness, because I have loved ones in my family with mental illness. Having had the [personal] experience of trying to navigate [mental health] systems and challenges, it’s work that ultimately chose me. I’ve been here at NAMI New Hampshire as an employee for almost nine years — I was the deputy director — but I’ve been a longtime member and supporter of NAMI New Hampshire for about 20 years because of my experience as a family member [of people with mental illness].

What does your job as executive director entail?

It’s leading our organization, but also working with our partners across the mental health system to ensure that individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide can have access to the support and services they need to get treatment, recover and live full lives in their communities. … NAMI New Hampshire is part of a nationally recognized suicide prevention program, so we offer suicide prevention and intervention training; we offer postvention training for communities after a suicide loss; and we do a lot of work with survivors of suicide loss and survivors of suicide attempts.

What are some of New Hampshire’s greatest needs when it comes to mental health care?

The biggest need that we’re seeing is access to care. New Hampshire has, for probably close to nine years now, had a real problem with people experiencing mental health crises being able to access crisis care in a timely fashion. … We’ve seen some significant strides in recent years toward [addressing] that; on Jan. 1 of this year, New Hampshire launched its rapid response access points and statewide rapid response mobile team. … People [experiencing a mental health crisis] will now have access to a proper response [from mental health professionals] as opposed to having to call 911 and get a response from law enforcement. That’s going to be transformational for our system.

How has the pandemic impacted mental health care in the state?

The need for mental health care has gone up, and we’re seeing and hearing from a lot of folks who are struggling to get initial appointments with providers. That, of course, is very concerning, because what is the long-term impact for folks who are reaching out, needing help, and not able to access that care in a timely way? How does that play out? Do they wind up in a mental health crisis further down the road if they aren’t able to get that earlier intervention? … I also want to point out that our mental health workforce providers are, at the same time, experiencing the same challenges that all of us are going through at this time. They’re helping people through these challenges when they, too, are living through them. The pandemic has really impacted everyone’s mental health.

What do you hope to accomplish as director?

Advocating for individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide, and advocating for … long-term investments to ensure that we have a robust system … of mental health services. … Ideally, we would have a system [in which] people would be able to access the level of care they need when they need it so they don’t have to board in an emergency department.

What do you find rewarding about this work?

I had the opportunity a week or so ago to … sit in on a meeting with a group of high school students … who have experienced suicide loss in their school communities and have really stepped into a leadership role around creating a safe space for students to be open with their mental health needs, support each other, dispel stigma and bring mental health out into the open. That was one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve gotten to listen to in a while. … We also have speakers … who are folks living with mental illness who are trained to tell their story and offer up hope in that process. It’s always really moving to hear those stories and realize how folks can go through some very dark days, but, with help and by seeking treatment, they can come out on the other side, so to speak, and be able to then share that story of hope with others and help to promote hope and healing. It’s those moments — seeing that transference of hope or people holding onto hope for each other — that is one of the most rewarding things I experience.

Featured photo: Susan Stearns. Courtesy photo.

New Hampshire Housing names new executive director

New Hampshire Housing, an organization dedicated to growing affordable housing in the state, welcomed Robert Dapice as its new executive director and CEO last month. Dapice discussed the position and how he plans to lead New Hampshire Housing in addressing New Hampshire’s housing needs.

What is your background in this type of work?

I worked … in construction for seven years. … I got a job for a construction company in Concord and did some work in the housing space. That’s when I really came to appreciate the value of New Hampshire’s communities and villages and main streets. I did some volunteer work … that draws upon volunteers from the design and construction and engineering industries to help communities solve design problems. Through that, I became aware of New Hampshire Housing and applied for a job there. That was seven years ago, and I’ve been working here since then, mostly on multi-family development but also on compliance and development [issues], working with partners and developers who are trying to create new housing initiatives and opportunities for people across the state.

What does your job as executive director entail?

This is a period of transition for New Hampshire Housing. … We’re running an emergency rental assistance program to help [renters] who have been [financially] affected by Covid to be able to stay in their homes. We’re also getting ready to launch a homeowners assistance fund to help [homeowners] with mortgage or utility payments they’ve fallen behind on. A lot of what I’m doing is helping to support the team and making sure they have the resources they need … to run those programs. There’s also a certain amount of external engagement, like working with GOFER, [which is] the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery … and answering questions for legislators when they’re considering legislation that might affect the housing economy.

What are some of New Hampshire’s greatest needs when it comes to housing?

Demographically, [New Hampshire] households have been getting smaller, which has created a need for more smaller types of housing. We have a lot of larger single-family homes, which were developed at a time when it was more common [to see] larger families with more kids, but now, there are a lot of one- and two-person households … and people who are looking to downsize. … When people have trouble moving into homeownership opportunities, they stay in their apartments, which puts pressure on [renters] who are more vulnerable or housing-insecure. We also need more supportive housing for people with significant challenges … like people who are [experiencing] homelessness, substance abuse disorders and mental illness … and housing for the workforce.

How has the pandemic impacted housing in the state?

Covid has affected housing by changing people’s preferences. To some degree, the school closures early in the pandemic, coupled with the ability or need to work from home, has put additional pressure on the homeownership market. Another effect is … homelessness [among] people who have been in unstable [housing] situations, like living with their relatives or couchsurfing with friends; a lot of those arrangements became untenable during the pandemic [due to] fear of infection or people needing more space [at home] to do remote school or work.

What do you hope to accomplish as director, short-term and long-term?

Short-term, to continue running emergency relief programs efficiently and with compassion to help get people through what is still a really difficult time, and … to figure out how we’re going to evolve to reflect the changes in people’s lives and in the housing landscape. … Long-term, we’re working on a range of initiatives to create new housing across the spectrum of communities and housing types … and [the types of] housing that people in the state want and need.

What do you find rewarding about this work?

The work we do [like] helping first-time homebuyers afford new homes [and] creating new opportunities for multi-family rental housing … is essential to meet the [housing] needs of the state, and to help people find a good home when they might not otherwise be able to afford one. That’s incredibly satisfying. … I feel lucky to work here.

Featured photo: Robert Dapice. Courtesy photo.