| NAMI New Hampshire
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
by Sam Hawkins
Heather Martin at the New Hampshire Legislative Office Building
Often, when we talk about advocacy, we talk about the power of stories. Indeed, it is stories of lived experience that form the foundation for change in our communities. For policymakers, stories are a window into the lives and realities of their constituency. We all have a story to tell, and sharing your story is one of the most meaningful things you can do: for yourself, for your neighbors, for the entire Granite State community.
There are a multitude of ways you can share your story: you can write a letter, an email, or an op-ed, you can invite your local decision maker out for coffee, you can even testify at a public hearing. The opportunities are near endless— but it can be hard to know where to start.
For Heather Martin, a maternal mental health advocate from Salem, NH, it started with a phone call.
Having lost her only sister to perinatal suicide over a decade prior, maternal mental health had long been close to Heather’s heart. In the years following her loss, Heather kept seeing, in many ways, the same persistent problems affecting mothers and families. Not only was there a general lack of awareness regarding maternal mental health, but there was also significant stigma surrounding it. This, combined with a lack of resources, was leading to moms not getting access to the care they needed. Through these issues, Heather saw a need: to eliminate the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, to start connecting mothers with necessary care, and to prevent tragedies. Heather knew she had a role to play, but she wasn’t sure what was already being done, or what opportunities were available. Heather wanted to know how she could get involved— so she decided to call NAMI New Hampshire.
From there, things moved quickly. Heather was offered an opportunity: the state legislature was considering a bill to extend postpartum Medicaid benefits from sixty days to one year postpartum, and NAMI New Hampshire’s Director of Public Policy, Holly Stevens, had asked Heather if she would be willing to share her story in support of the bill. Heather instantly agreed.
Not long after, Heather found herself pulling into the NAMI New Hampshire parking lot on the day of the public hearing. As Heather and Holly walked side by side to the New Hampshire Legislative Office Building, she remembered being nervous. She had so much passion for the issue and so much to say— how could she condense it all down into a three-minute speech?
What helped most, Heather remembers, was realizing she wasn’t alone. When they made it into the hearing room, she found a room full of other advocates, like her, there to share their stories. Listening to them, having Holly by her side, Heather felt emboldened. In that moment, her passion, and the crucial importance of the issue, washed away the nerves. Heather knew that without her and the other advocates getting up to tell their stories, the legislators in front of them wouldn’t be able to understand the reality of the issue.
Eventually, the chair of the committee called on Heather to speak. Like the advocates before her, she approached the table, sat down, turned on the microphone, and spoke. She told her story: what happened, what could’ve helped, and what needed to change. The room was silent, and Heather felt all eyes on her. After she shared her story, Heather remembers the silence from the committee, the recognition it contained. Heather felt powerful— like her voice truly mattered.
The legislation didn’t pass that year, but still, Heather felt a change, in herself, in the community, and in the legislature. Awareness was growing, and people were starting to pay attention to maternal mental health. In herself, a fire had been lit.
Heather’s advocacy journey moved quickly from there. When the same legislation came around the next legislative session, Heather was there to tell her story again— and this time, it passed. But her work didn’t stop there.
Since then, Heather has met with both state and federal legislators to share her story, even traveling to the Capitol alongside other maternal mental health advocates to speak with U.S. senators, representatives, and their staff. She’s spoken directly with the Governor to advance new strategies to support maternal mental health in New Hampshire. She’s worked with advocacy organizations to shape their vision on maternal mental health services, helped to compile resources, presented webinars, attended conferences, and trained other moms to share their stories.
Heather’s story and persistence have directly contributed to improving maternal mental health services both locally and nationally. From the first time she shared her story, to the passage of New Hampshire’s Momnibus bill, to the creation of the national Maternal Mental Health Task Force, to progress in creating a maternal mental health hub here in New Hampshire, Heather’s story has become an instrument for change. And she’s not done yet.
“We’re not gonna stop. We won’t stop. Get people together and there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”
Heather continues her work every day, using her story and experience to make a difference for moms across the state and nation. It hasn’t been a short journey, nor has it been simple, but for Heather, it’s been life-changing.
When reflecting on what helped her most in initially telling her story, Heather shared that community support made the biggest difference: hearing others share their stories, having a support person there with her, and getting feedback from other advocates. Heather also suggested that individuals take trainings with local advocacy organizations, such as NAMI NH’s It’s Your Move Training, to get more comfortable with the legislative process and crafting their story.
Further, Heather wants first-time advocates to know it’s natural and okay to be intimidated and emotional when sharing your story in front of policymakers. Emotions are relatable, and can even make your story stronger. The most important thing to remember, Heather reiterated, is that legislators and local decision-makers are people just like you, and they are there for you— but they won’t know the issues affecting your community unless you tell them. You need to be the voice that tells them why your issue matters. You can be the voice that creates change.
Though Heather’s journey has taken her far, it all started with that first step of reaching out. NAMI NH is here to help you craft your story to make change in your community. To share your story, visit naminh.org/shareyourstory or reach out to advocacy@naminh.org to learn more about advocacy and training opportunities with NAMI New Hampshire. By sharing your story, you can help improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness and suicide.
Heather Martin is a Maternal Mental Health Coordinator at Dartmouth Health Children’s in Manchester, serves on the board of New Futures, and is a NAMI NH SurvivorVoices speaker. She lives in Salem, NH, with her husband, two boys, and dog, Cairo.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free 24/7 confidential support, resources, and referrals to pregnant and postpartum mothers facing mental health challenges (and their loved ones). Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).