Meet The Storytellers - This Is My Brave New Hampshire

MEET THE STORYTELLERS THIS IS MY BRAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE AIRS ON OCTOBER 22, 2020 REGISTER HERE Presented by:

ABOUT A NOTE

FROM THE PRODUCERS When our storytellers auditioned for This Is My Brave in February,

RIVERBEND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH OUR MISSION IS TO CARE FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

they did so anticipating to share their deeply personal stories in front of an audience of hundreds live and on stage come May. The spread of Covid-19 across the United States in mid-March quickly changed these plans and left us unsure of

T H E P RO D U C E R S

We are a private, nonprofit providing comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment services for children, adolescents, adults, and families in central New Hampshire. Evidence-based models of treatment guide all our work and we strongly believe in the power of resilience and recovery. We provide educational programming to increase behavioral health literacy and we strongly support efforts to reduce stigma.

how we would proceed, but we knew that these stories still needed to be shared - and now, more than ever. As a group we decided to continue on with our show, but virtually! The storytellers adapted to the many changes that this new format brought, and did so with grace and

We are living in uncertain times and dealing with long lists of unknowns right now – including when things will “go back to normal” and what “normal” looks like. The one thing we are certain of is that more individuals will be seeking mental health and substance use disorder services in the months ahead.

understanding. We are so proud of them. The environment that we are living in today has exacerbated or uncovered mental health issues for much of our Nation’s population. After watching This Is My BraveNew Hampshire it’s our hope that you will walk away from this show knowing that you are not alone, help is available, and recovery is possible. Our storytellers are proof of this. ENJOY THE SHOW!

Our response to COVID-19 has been swift. In a very short amount of time we moved our services into a virtual environment ensuring no lapse in treatment for all who depend on us. Your gift will minimize the impact of this virus on the behavioral health needs of our neighbors, friends, and families.

Together we will ensure that there is access to treatment for all who need us.

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THE

N.H. CAST THE

SHOW A presentation of essays, original music, comedy and poetry performed by individuals living with―or loving someone with―a mental health condition. This is My Brave New Hampshire, will be airing October 22, 2020 at 7pm.

THIS IS OUR BRAVE CAST: in order of appearance

Katie Langille

“Brave” by Sara Bareilles

Jennifer Mennis

Essay, “Mental Altitude”

Finnley Allen

Poem, “Something Isn’t Right”

Karen Trudel

Essay, “Blessed By My Mental Illness”

Jenny Hoffman Ed Prive Lauren W.B. Vermette Ellie Langille

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Comedy, “Who Needs a Time Out?” Essay, “My Wife’s Mental Illness Affects Me, Too” Poem, “Fire Poppy” Dance, “How You Treat People Is Who You Are”

KATIE LANGILLE Katie is ecstatic to be taking the stage with so many talented storytellers tonight! As Miss Berlin-Gorham’s Outstanding Teen 2020, her platform The H.O.P.E. Project (Hold On, Pain Ends) has allowed her to visit various 8th Grade classrooms to share her story and educate the kids on various common mental illnesses in teens, as well as how to help someone in need.

She is also a part of Concord High School’s Student Connect Club, which is dedicated to offering peer-to-peer guidance and breaking the stigma of mental health. A proud anxiety warrior since the age of 7, she would like to dedicate her song to her sister Ellie, who has taught her how to truly be brave. Follow her journey on Instagram @theh.o.p.e.project.

“I HOPE THE AUDIENCE GETS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO SPREAD.”

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JENNIFER MENNIS

FINNLEY ALLEN

Jenn Mennis is a New Hampshire native who has spent all her life living in northern New England. She loves the outdoors and the changing of the seasons. Although she can be quiet and shy, when in her comfort zone Jenn has a true ‘take charge’ nature and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Jenn believes strongly that others should be treated with kindness and respect no matter what their status - emotionally, intellectually, financially, etc. Her experiences as a mother, nurse and one who practices her faith is a testament to this belief. She is hopeful that initiatives such as This Is My Brave will help change the narrative of attitudes towards mental health.

Finnley Allen was born and raised in Concord, NH and recently graduated from Concord High School. He plans on becoming an Art Therapist and working with teen. He is currently enrolled at NHTI and spends his free time creating art all the way from crocheting blankets to creating sculptures out of metal.

He hopes that by listening to his poem you will learn to pick up on different signals that someone is struggling. And finally, Finnley would like to thank his high school teachers for pushing him to continue to create and push through the hard times. He hopes you enjoy the show!

“I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS ARE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.”

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“I HOPE THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS THAT MENTAL ILLNESS TAKES ON MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES AND FORMS.”

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KAREN TRUDEL

JENNIFER HOFFMAN

Karen Trudel has always lived in New Hampshire, however, she went to college in Ohio and after graduation, lived in North Carolina. She is an athlete and exercises to cope with her Mental Illness and she most enjoys swimming.

When she moved to Concord, NH, she made great friends at the local YMCA who are Triathletes and they encouraged her to broaden her horizons and begin running in 2013. The rest is history!

Jenny Hoffman - just one of the many Jenny Hoffmans in the world - works as a research administrator at Harvard University. Over the past two decades, she has lived in ten states and four other countries, getting into adventures and seeking out the funnier side of living with major depression. Formerly enlisted in the Army and currently living “Bostonadjacent,” she never underestimates the importance of dressing in layers and carrying a multitool.

“I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON MENTAL HEALTH, ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHARE.”

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“THIS IS MY BRAVE IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALONE IN DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.”

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ED PRIVE Ed Prive served in the Marine Corps fresh out of high school, raised four children, and still has his hands full dealing with his beloved wife Karen.

They live in Franklin, NH, with their beautiful rescued black lab and two cats.

He even does the grocery shopping.

LAUREN W.B. VERMETTE Lauren W.B. Vermette is a word-painter who makes her home in Dover, NH. Her poetry has appeared in Edge, Good Fat Zine, Lunation: An Anthology of Women Poets, and Rat’s Ass Review Journal. Her first collection, And The Form Falls Away (2018), was published by Senile Monk Press. To learn more about her book, please visit senilemonkpress.com.

“WE DON’T TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS ENOUGH.” “THIS IS MY CHANCE TO COME OUT ABOUT MY MENTAL ILLNESS AND BE FREE AND CLEAR OF THOSE INTENSE EMOTIONS.”

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H OW TO

P r ote c t Your M e nta l He a lth

ELLIE LANGILLE

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Ellie is a 12 year-old that attends Rundlett Middle School. She is very excited to be performing her solo called “Be Kind”. Her accolades include a regional title in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. She has also received high honors in every quarter while attending Rundlett Middle School, and student of the quarter in the third quarter of 6th grade. Ellie has struggled with depression and anxiety for over 5 years.

She has an amazing group of support including her sister, her mom, and her best friend. Her battle with mental health has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but something that has always stuck with her is H.O.P.E: hold on, pain ends.

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“MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE NORMALIZED, NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ASHAMED OF.”

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Text “TIMB20” to 44-321 to support our work today

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ABOUT

THIS IS MY BRAVE This Is My Brave brings stories of mental illness and addiction out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Historic Phenix Hall, Downtown Concord, NH

THANK YOU

TO OUR SPONSORS Thank You to our local sponsors, Borislow Insurance and Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Thank you to Mark Ciborowski for donating the use of historic Phenix Hall for filming.

Thank you also to Digital Purpose, Co. and Captain Artistries.

NATIONAL THIS IS MY BRAVE SPONSORS:

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After the success of the debut show in 2014, Jennifer and Anne Marie (the show’s co-founders) began receiving interest from individuals in other cities to bring the show to their community. This Is My Brave, Inc was formed as a 501c3 and the organization began to expand to new cities through the support of volunteers willing to donate their time and expertise to coordinate shows.

Since 2014, This Is My Brave has produced over 65 unique shows in cities across the United States featuring nearly 800 storytellers sharing true, personal stories on overcoming depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, psychosis, OCD, postpartum depression, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder,

trichotillomania, anorexia, bulimia, sexual assault, alcoholism, substance use disorder and more.

Jennifer and Anne Marie may have created the space for these brave stories to exist, but This Is My Brave wouldn’t be the incredible community it is if it weren’t for all the amazing people who have bravely come forward to share their stories. “It’s my opinion that we won’t be able to end the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction until we put our names and faces on our stories,” says Jennifer.

This Is My Brave is doing this one person and one story at a time.

Learn More at thisismybrave.org

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PO BOX 2032, CONCORD, NH 03302-2032