As June is recognized as PTSD awareness month, it is important to bring awareness to the Maine men and women who fought for their home and country. For this week's episode of NAMI Maine Talks, we were able to speak with the Executive Director of Vet 2 Vet Maine, Maggie Catanese.

Vet 2 Vet Maine is a non-profit organization that serves the veteran population of Maine. Matching veterans with other local volunteer veterans, Vet 2 Vet provides support, companionship, and links to services across the state.

Learn about the work that Vet 2 Vet has done to help fight social isolation and loneliness among our veterans. You’ll hear about the process to become a veteran volunteer, stories of success, and even how their organization is able to stretch from Presque Isle to Kittery. All this and more on NAMI Maine Talks!

Host:

Tori Tracy, Sr. Manager of CIT Partnerships and Education

Guests:

Maggie Catanese, Executive Director of Vet 2 Vet Maine

Links:

Check out the work of Vet 2 Vet Maine: https://www.vet2vetmaine.org/

Looking to get involved as a veteran: https://www.vet2vetmaine.org/join-vet2vet-maine

Check out NAMI Maine's guide to caring for your veteran: https://namimaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Guide-to-Support-Your-Veteran.pdf

In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, join NAMI Maine’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Jill Henderson, as she talks about The Mental Edge Softball Camp with its founder, Oakley McLeod. Created in 2024, Oakley has organized this event to bring mental health awareness to youth softball players across the state. Her work has gained attention statewide, and this year the camp welcomed over 200 softball players.

Host:

Jill Henderson, Director of Marketing and Communications

Guests:

Oakley McLeod, Founder of Mental Edge Softball Camp

Links:

Learn more about Mental Edge Softball Camp: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579289657434

Check out Oakley in the news: https://www.wmtw.com/article/scholar-athlete-of-the-week-oakley-mcleod/71312315

Check out NAMI Maine’s Youth Resources: https://namimaine.org/youth-ed-resources/

Hashtags:

#stigmaFREE, #MentalHealthMattersToME, #ItTakesAllOfUs, #HOPE, #WellBeing, #Resources, #StrongerTogether #ReachOut, #Maine, #NAMI, #Softball

We all appreciate walking through gardens during the summer, but did you know gardening is a form of therapy for many people? In this week’s episode of NAMI Maine Talks, learn about the practice of Horticulture Therapy. Featuring Garron Dorr from the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, he’ll break down what Horticulture Therapy means and the benefits it brings to so many! You’ll also learn more about the work that the Maine Botanical Gardens does to make gardening accessible to everyone!

Host:

Ambrose Ward, Marketing and Media Specialist

Guests:

Garron Dorr, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Horticultural Therapist

Links:

Check out more from The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: https://www.mainegardens.org/

Plan your next visit: https://www.mainegardens.org/visit/plan-your-visit/

Check out the American Horticulture Therapy Association: https://www.ahta.org/