News stories from Counterpoint
Burlington Pods Offer Lessons
The Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community, which opened in February, accommodates up to 35 adults in small, modular structures on a former parking lot just outside downtown Burlington. Getting the project off the ground wasn’t easy, according to city officials, who, in...
Massachusetts Legislator Proposes Peer Respites
The Massachusetts General Court will soon consider legislation to establish 14 or more peer-run respite centers in the Bay State, with a minimum of one in each county. Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, alongside Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, introduced the bill in the lower chamber in...
In the News
• Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch, and Rep. Becca Balint hosted a “town meeting on youth mental health” on June 29 at Spaulding High School in Barre. Sanders cited “a mental health crisis in America,” particularly “for our young people, who are living with...
Feds Publish National Standards for Peer Certification
More than a year ago, in connection with President Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union address, the White House announced a “national mental health strategy to strengthen system capacity,” including the peer workforce. This June, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health...
Neuroinclusive Health Clinic Reports Growth
All Brains Belong VT, a Montpelier-based nonprofit founded during the pandemic, garnered attention last year thanks to its unusual COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Outdoor settings (including the Statehouse lawn), calming features, and specially trained staff allowed...
ISPS-US Gets Ready for Annual Conference
The American chapter of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis received a record number of proposals this year for its annual conference, according to ISPS-US Executive Director Leah Giorgini. The conference, titled Humanity in...
Counterpoint Articles Archives
Arts and commentary from Counterpoint
Letters to the Editor
Mental Anguish Versus Mental Illness Thanks for this, and for the article on Any Given Day… I agreed with you on almost every point. Thepremise of the film is that Mental Illness is Real… an a priori with which I take issue. The fact is thatsmoking weed or pcp or...
January of ’21
Words by Patrick Stanton “The card of the day.” Jody shuffled her Tarot deck on the small, cafe-style table where we were served all three meals by the staff of the Unit. She was known as “Splash” by the patients (as in bringing “a splash of color/positivity” to the...
Courage
Poem by ANONYMOUS There needs to be some differences madeThe old ways are ineffectual, not serving theneeds anymoreWell at least not in the healthy ways.Change.Oh No! Not the C wordNo, it’s too scary, Uh, Uh, no it’s too lonely,its hurtsWhy can’t I stay here in the...
Strength in Knowledge
Words by Gabe Simpson, Rutland I held in my hands, the truth for you to see. I showed you a future that you and I can have. I helped you fight your battles and I cried your tears. I gave you the power to be who you were meant to be. You have become human: after all...
A Tribute to Intentional Peer Support
Poem by Bert Dyer The Three Principles From Helping to Learning Together: For together weBecome who we may becomeTherefore we can hum This silent riddle Which is that which yields true thought.What is or is naught? So you are magic That welds us together, zeal,Binding...
Celebrations, Seahorse, I’ll Love You to Infinity
Art by Cynthia Christensen Art has been a major healing force in my life, and I draw while supporting Vermonters as a full-time peer operator on our Vermont Support Line! These originals are created with Sharpie Markers/Tom Bow Dual Brush Markers to lay down colors,...
Second Project Debuts at Fleming Museum
Paintings by Thomas G. Stetson (Progression of Modern Medicine, left) and Amjed Jumaa (Saint Man of Peace, right) BURLINGTON – A temporary exhibition at the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art dives deep into its archives and comes up with something new....
Artists Wow Burlington in 2 Exhibitions
Does anyone write old-fashioned letters anymore? In front of the Howard Center at 300 Flynn Avenue in Burlington, a collection of 13 decorated mailboxes pays tribute to the history of the United States Postal Service and to the human bonds forged over centuries by...
A Vermont Advocacy Resource Toolkit
A New Legislative Session Begins in January: Writing Letters to the Editor Is One Way to Have Your Voice Heardby Morgan W. Brown “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –...
Counterpoint Online Poll
QUESTION: Does Vermont need a forensic psychiatric hospital? A forensic psychiatric hospital would house and treat criminal defendants who’ve been adjudicated incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of insanity. Vermont does not currently have...