Champions for Mental Health – 2024

Join us on Tuesday, October 22, for the 18th annual Champions for Mental Health awards ceremony!

Each year, Riverbend Community Mental Health recognizes individuals or organizations in central New Hampshire who advocate for greater access to mental health services; contribute extraordinary time, talent or treasure to improve the lives of people with mental illness; or publicly give voice to those with mental illness, helping eliminate the stigma and stereotypes that can surround the disease.

For this year’s ceremony, Riverbend is honoring Elaine de Mello, LICSW, and Dr. Cassie Yackley for decades of service to New Hampshire’s system of mental health care. In addition to significant clinical work, both women have built systems, established trainings and curriculums, forged partnerships, and generously shared their knowledge and passion with current practitioners and future leaders in the mental health field.

Elaine de Mello, a Sanbornton resident, is the director of suicide prevention services at the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire (NAMI NH). A licensed clinical social worker, she has served as a clinical program manager in inpatient, emergency services, and community settings since 1978, and provided training and consultation in mental health and suicide prevention throughout the U.S., Pacific Islands and Canada.

Dr. Cassie Yackley is a licensed psychologist, master trainer and director of the Center for Trauma-Responsive Practice Change, a New Hampshire nonprofit dedicated to promoting a trauma-responsive system of care for children and families throughout New England. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Dr. Yackley has worked tirelessly to address the impact of traumatic exposure on children, families and systems. She resides in Bradford.

Community members, mental health advocates, local businesses, neighbors and friends will gather together at this year’s event ceremony to honor these two talented, committed women.