More Good Days Together

To the editor: May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the mental health of our community and ourselves. This year’s theme from NAMI is: “Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community.” It is a reminder that showing up for one another matters. As a recent appointee to the Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition Steering Committee, I look forward to helping ensure Nantucket’s voice is part of regional conversations around mental wellness and suicide prevention. Whether you are living with a mental health condition, supporting a loved one, or advocating for change, your voice and presence make a difference.

Across the United States and here in Massachusetts, we continue to face significant mental health challenges. On Nantucket, we see these struggles up close through anxiety, depression, substance misuse, isolation, and, tragically, suicide. Yet we also see hope. Conversations about mental health are becoming more open, stigma is beginning to lessen, and more people are reaching out for support and connection.

Mental Health America’s theme this year, “More Good Days, Together,” invites us to reflect on what a “good day” means personally. Good does not have to mean perfect, productive, or even happy. Sometimes a good day simply means manageable, calm, connected, or hopeful. More good days are possible, and no one has to struggle alone.

Support is within reach on Nantucket. Fairwinds Counseling Center and Addiction Solutions provide vital services for individuals and families navigating mental health and substance use challenges. A trusted friend, caring neighbor, trained counselor, or supportive community member can make a meaningful difference and sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply start a conversation.

There is something each of us can do. QPR Suicide Prevention Training; “Question, Persuade, Refer” is often described as CPR for mental health. It equips everyday people to recognize signs of emotional crisis and respond in a supportive and informed way. Free QPR trainings are offered monthly at the Chamber of Commerce, and an additional training will be held at the Nantucket Atheneum on June 23 from 12–2 p.m. The training takes just 90 minutes, and it can save a life.

Imagine the impact if every island resident knew how to recognize warning signs and support someone in distress. Together, we can continue building the kind of Nantucket community where people feel seen, supported, and comfortable asking for help. Small actions matter, and together we can create more good days and more hope for everyone on our island.

Sincerely,
Rosemary McLaughlin
Executive Director
Community Solutions for Behavioral Health