Thank You, Noah Kahan

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

More than a year and a half ago, the Bernie Buzz interviewed a young Vermont artist whose new album was beginning to strike a real chord with audiences. At the time, this artist spoke about “Stick Season” as a “love letter” to Vermont and growing up in small, rural towns.

Today, Strafford’s Noah Kahan has made a huge mark bringing his music to communities all over the country and world.

But he has not forgotten where he came from.

Last weekend in Essex Junction, I was proud to introduce Noah at his benefit concert to support Vermont-based mental health organizations through his organization, The Busyhead Project. In partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, the Busyhead Project is working to provide resources, end stigma, and improve access to mental health care for all – especially people living in rural communities.

In these difficult times, we need all the help we can get if we are to address our nation’s mental health crisis.

Thank you, Noah, for all of your work, for your beautiful music, and for your understanding that people in our state and around the country are in need.

You’ve made us all very proud.

Sincerely,



 


P.S. One last word. If you, or anyone you know, is in need of support, please take a look below at some available mental health resources, including free and confidential assistance.

Mental Health Resources

9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, free of charge, to connect callers with trained counselors. Learn more below and here: https://988lifeline.org.

• Friends and family members who might be concerned about their loved ones are also welcome to call.
• Veterans can connect to the Veterans Crisis line by calling 9-8-8 and pressing 1.
• Those who speak Spanish can press 2, and the national system provides interpretation services for more than 150 additional languages. 
  
  

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Vermont

NAMI Vermont is a statewide, nonprofit, grassroots, volunteer organization comprised of people who live with a mental health condition, families, and advocates. NAMI Vermont offers support and advocates so that all communities, families, and individuals affected by mental illness or mental health challenges can get the support they need. To contact NAMI Vermont, call their office at (802) 876-7949 or Toll Free at (800) 639-6480. You can also email them at info@namivt.org or visit their website at https://namivt.org/.

• Need help? If you or somebody you know has a mental health condition and needs help, reach out to NAMI by texting “HelpLine” to 62640 or visit NAMI.org/help.
• Learn more about warning signs and symptoms here: https://nami.org/About-mental-Illness/Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms. Or text/call 9-8-8 to talk with a trained crisis counselor.
  
  

Facing Suicide VT

Facing Suicide VT is a statewide initiative – started by the Vermont Department of Health and Department of Mental Health, and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – to get Vermonters the help they need. They provide access to suicide prevention, education, support, and advocacy resources.

• Learn more about Facing Suicide VT and how to get involved at: FacingSuicideVT.com.
  
  

Vermont Care Partners

Vermont Care Partners is a statewide network of non-profit community-based agencies that specialize in providing mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability services and support.

• For a list of the services they can connect your with, visit: https://vermontcarepartners.org/services-and-supports/.
• For the locations of their agencies, visit: https://vermontcarepartners.org/agencies/.
• For more information, you can email them at contact@vermontcarepartners.org, call them at (802)-223-1773, or visit their website at: https://vermontcarepartners.org/.
  
  

Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH)

The Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) serves to promote and improve the health of Vermonters throughout our state so everyone can live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. Vermont DMH oversees publicly-funded community-based and inpatient services to ensure early intervention and mental health treatment.

• For a full list of services, visit: https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/services. 
• For more information or to get in touch with Vermont DMH, you can call (802) 241-0090 or visit: https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/. 
  
  

Vermont Peer Service Organizations

In general, peer support has been defined by the fact that people who have like experiences can often better relate and can consequently offer more authentic empathy and validation. It is also not uncommon for people with similar lived experiences to offer each other practical advice and suggestions for strategies that professionals may not offer or even know about.

• For more information on peer-to-peer services, including a list of services offered in Vermont: https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/services/peer-services.