NAMI Maine

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month!

In 1970, the first Pride parade was held in Manhattan at the historic Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall Inn acted as a safe haven for the New York LGBTQ+ community. On June 28th 1969, police were sent to raid the Inn as part of their routine. Instead of submitting to the raid, members of the Inn clashed with police, which resulted in a global movement of resistance.

After years of harassment from police, the Inn became a base of activists and protestors seeking equal rights, which sparked a movement across the globe. With mass media coverage, the Stonewall Uprising quickly became the catalyst for other Gay Rights movements and pride parades. These organizations and events spread to areas where homosexual persecution was common.

The purpose of Pride Month is to recognize the artistic, social, political, and cultural impact that members of the LGBTQ+ community have had on the world.

Learn more about The Stonewall Riots: https://www.history.com/articles/the-stonewall-riots

LGBTQ+ mental health resource: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

MaineTransNet: https://www.mainetrans.net/

OUT Maine: https://www.outmaine.org/

06/01/2026

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month!

While mental health awareness is important year-round, this month brings attention to the mental health crisis in our male population. Men are nearly four times more likely to die by su***de than women.

Additionally, many men will refuse to talk about these issues with someone until it’s too late. Instead of seeking help, some men turn to self-destructive habits that further worsen their mental well-being.

There are plenty of ways to offer help to the men in your life. You can start the conversation and offer a safe space to talk about mental health and wellness. There are also various mental health resources made for men.

Get information on Man Therapy: https://namimaine.org/mantherapy/

Learn more about Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI: https://www.nami.org/stay-connected/events/awareness-events/mens-health-month/

Check out the work of Maine Boys to Men: https://maineboystomen.org/

05/28/2026

Today is recognized as World Hunger Day.

Created in 2011 by The Hunger Project, World Hunger Day brings awareness to the global hunger crisis. This day is meant to draw people together to recognize the importance of hunger.

Did you know that about 1 in 12 people worldwide live in hunger?

Looking to make a difference? There are plenty of ways to get involved today to help fight hunger across the globe.

- Advocate for change by writing to your local representatives
- Reduce your food waste by planning out meals or composting leftovers
- Support your local food banks or hunger relief organizations
- Take time to educate yourself and others on the issue of world hunger

05/27/2026

Check out some of the photos from the third annual Mental Edge Softball Camp.🥎

This year, over 200 youth softball players came together to learn about the fundamentals of the game, and the importance of their mental wellbeing. It was a great day for softball lessons under the sun, and even a special presentation from 2025 USA softball collegiate player of the year, Brie Ellis.

We couldn’t speak about The Mental Edge Softball Camp without highlighting its founder Oakley McLeod. Oakley has been a powerhouse for the Windham high school softball team and will be bringing her talents to New Hampshire to play for Saint Anselm College!

Not only has she been a star on the field, but her work to increase mental health awareness for youth softball players has left a great impact on Maine’s youth sports. Her work highlights the importance of prioritizing mental wellness and advocating for yourself and one another.

05/27/2026

May is month. Make time for your mental health and learn how diabetes and mental health influence each other at www.cdc.gov/diabetes/living-with/mental-health.html.
Mental health IS your health!

05/26/2026

Ready to support Mental Health in Maine? NAMI Maine works to spread awareness, fight stigma, and provide education across the State of Maine. Support from folks like you makes our mission possible, and together we can expand our reach even further to communities that need us.

🎒Our youth education team has been busy spreading mental health awareness to schools throughout the state. Over the past year, our youth team has distributed over 1,500 Youth Wellness Toolkits to students.

📚They have also held Mental Health Conversation trainings that reached over 2,500 youth across Maine.

📜NAMI Maine advocated for mental health by providing testimony and expertise on over 35 bills in the Maine State Legislature!

🫂Our Adult Education Team worked to deliver training to over 400 individuals. Sharing education around mental health through trainings like: Sign & Symptoms, De-escalation, Self-care & Wellness, and more!

Looking to support our mission? NAMI Maine is always looking for volunteers and donations to further our reach. The best way to give is to join our Heartwood circle and pledge a monthly donation to our cause!

Check out our year-in-review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bkQWrxzFr-mD6O2EjIW1_7N_058leaSZ/view

Check out more from our Youth Education Team: https://namimaine.org/youth-ed-resources/

Join the Heartwood Circle: https://namimaine.org/donate/

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is meant to reflect on the bravery of heroes who have fallen to protect our country.

Take time today to honor those who we have lost in the pursuit of freedom. A reminder that the freedom we share is a gift from the brave.

NAMI Maine will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Maine educators, school leaders, and community advocates are coming together to strengthen su***de prevention, intervention, and postvention supports for students and school communities.

This photo captures just a few of the participants who joined a recent webinar collaboration between NAMI Maine, the Maine CDC, and the Maine School Superintendents Association (Maine School Management Association) — the first of what is hoped to become an ongoing tradition of partnership and learning.

Nearly 100 people registered and more than 40 attended the first session, all united by a shared commitment to supporting student and staff mental health across Maine schools.

Special thanks to those who suck around for this photo!!!

05/21/2026

In light of these past weeks’ events that have deeply affected our first responder communities, we want to encourage all to connect with the care they need for their mental health during these difficult times.

WMTW-TV recently spoke with our Senior Director of Prevention & Workplace Well-being, Mary Gagnon, about the importance of mental health for first responders.

We want to remind folks that support is available, and we are here for you.

NAMI Maine's helpline is available Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:30. Our thoughts are with the first responders, loved ones, and all those affected.

NAMI Maine has several resources designed specifically to support first responders.

05/21/2026

“Meditation is a lifelong gift. It’s something that you can call on at any time.” Paul McCartney

Today is World Meditation Day, and it’s celebrated to bring awareness to the benefits that meditation can have on our lives.

Meditation isn’t about changing who you are or how you think, it’s about taking a moment to reflect on your emotions and gain a deeper understanding of them.

Meditation is also a great way to prioritize your mental health. Not only does meditation help to reduce anxiety and stress, but it also helps to regulate our emotions and helps to build positive outlooks on life. Meditation has also been proven to help reduce pain and increase the quality of sleep!