Haverhill Mayor Hosts Free Community Dinner Tuesday to Showcase Mental Health Resources

Merrimack Valley Newsmakers

Haverhill police and schools and health representatives are among those joining Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett Tuesday for a free community dinner focused on available mental health resources.

Mental wellness professionals will be available to answer questions about help and support available for adults, young adults, children and teen. YMCA Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller told listeners of WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program how the event came about and what to expect.

“Earlier this spring, the mayor had a community breakfast over at Somebody Cares to really look into identify pockets in neighborhoods of those that may need some support. So, she had identified and asked if the Y was willing to host, kind of, in the Acre neighborhood. We’d love to have people come and have some dinner. We’ve asked a few mental health professionals to come. Haverhill Public Schools will be there, Beth Israel Lahey Health will be there, NFI will be there, and a few others will be there as well.”

Fuller said the free event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the YMCA, 81 Winter St., Haverhill.

“I think it’s one of the things we hear often at the Y, and we want to make sure we connect the constituents of Haverhill and the resources together and make sure for those that have questions and are looking for support can get them. This is the mayor’s initiative. We are just happy to be a host for this and we’re hoping lots of people come and take part and, if they have questions, feel like they can get some answers, and have a little dinner too.”

Fuller says the YMCA will have a bouncy house and other activities for children, to allow adults time to get the mental wellness information they are seeking.

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