New Hampshire expands mental health support and marks suicide prevention month

New Hampshire officials and mental health advocates have gathered to mark the beginning of Suicide Prevention Month. During a meeting at the National Alliance on Mental Illness - New Hampshire offices, Governor Kelly Ayotte proclaimed September as Suicide Prevention Month to encourage individuals to seek help.

Lori Weaver, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, reported that New Hampshire’s crisis centers handled over 54,000 calls, texts, and chats via the 9-8-8 system in 2025. Weaver noted that the state is seven years into a 10-year mental health plan, which includes expanding crisis services in Derry and Plymouth and testing new community behavioral health clinic models.

In a related legislative development, New Hampshire has become the first state to expand mental health and PTSD counseling access to volunteer and small-town first responders. Through House Bill 1705, a First Responders Support Fund managed by the Department of Health and Human Services will provide these services to those previously excluded from the state Employee Assistance Program.