In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness month, Dover Public Library is opening up a conversation about mental health stigma and how communities can help. The Many Faces of Our Mental Health is a virtual presentation featuring Lynda Cutrell from the 99 Faces Project, Suzanne Weete from the Dover Mental Health Alliance and Janet Salsbury from Community Partners.

Cutrell is a mental health awareness advocate and the creator of the 99 Faces Project, an exhibit that features 99 unlabeled portraits: 33 people with schizophrenia, 33 with bipolar disorder and 33 people who love them. The project aims to challenge the stigma of those living with symptoms of mental illness. The traveling exhibit has been shown at the Boston Museum of Science and is currently on display at the Pease International Tradeport in the Two International Group building.

Weete is the Community Education and Engagement Manager at Community Partners as well as a founding member of the Dover Mental Health Alliance (DMHA). DMHA is made up of community stakeholders who hope to create an educated, responsive and conscious society that embraces and addresses the complexities of mental health in the greater Dover area. They do this through mental health training and providing “Place” designations to companies and individuals who provide a safe and judgement-free space for all. The Dover Public Library became the first organization designated a “Place” by the DMHA in February.

Salsbury a licensed clinical social worker and is the Chief Clinical Officer at Community Partners, the Mental Health Center in Strafford County. She has worked at the Mental Health Center for 26 years and has 30 years experience working with children, adults and their families regarding mental health and treating their mental illness. Awareness and stigma related to mental illness is a priority issue for Salsbury.

Registration is required to receive a link to this free program. To sign up, visit https://webinar.ringcentral.com/webinar/register/WN_e_wOqxerS5alBVyPg_oKig