Nashua, N.H. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with leadership and clinicians at Greater Nashua Mental Health (GNMH) to discuss their work and share updates on her efforts to address the substance use epidemic and end the stigma around treatment. During the roundtable, Kuster and local health care providers discussed the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and the importance of accessing care. Kuster also toured the facility’s crisis apartment housing. 

“When we invest in quality, affordable mental health care, our communities thrive and our state prospers,” said Kuster. “It was great to meet with Greater Nashua Mental Health providers and clinicians today to see the impact of their work firsthand. GNMH is a critical resource for thousands of our neighbors, helping Granite Staters deal with anxiety, depression, trauma, and more. There is no shame in getting the help you need. I am proud to partner with these incredible leaders and advocates as we work to address the mental health and substance use crisis.”

“We are grateful that Congresswoman Kuster took time out of her busy schedule to visit GNMH so that we could personally thank her for her support as the co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. We were able to share our progress toward meeting the requirements to be a Certified Community Behavior Health Center (CCBHC), which has been made possible by a grant from SAMHSA and her support of CCBHC expansion,” said Dr. Cynthia Whitaker, PsyD, MLADC, President & CEO of GNMH. “Though this is a time when community mental health centers are facing many challenges and there are many in need of services, it is refreshing to know that we have many supporters in our corner, like Congresswomen Kuster, who are committed to developing solutions to address the substance use and mental health crises alongside us.”

Kuster is the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, a group of 140 Members from both sides of the aisle working to address the addiction epidemic. Last Congress, the Task Force successfully passed 26 bills from its legislative agenda into law.

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