Foster’s Daily Democrat – April 23, 2025
DOVER — The fourth annual Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery in the Workplace Summit will take place on Tuesday, May 13, at the Rochester Country Club, 94 Church St., Rochester, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. The Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery in the Workplace Summit is designed to help employers explore stigma around mental health and substance use disorder in the workplace. Topics include how to recognize potential mental health or substance use issues, how to provide a safe environment for employees to seek help, and resources available for employers.
Presenters include Tara Paladino, Sarah Gordon and Max Harris of the Dover Children’s Home, who will discuss why the organization made the decision to seek designation as a Recovery Friendly Workplace. Nancy Alfonso of Yankee Electric in Rochester will discuss how her company owner’s own lived experience led it to nurture a culture of acceptance, support and care, so that employees know they can seek help without discrimination or fear of losing their jobs. Yankee Electric safety coordinator and communications manager Amy Brown said, “Caring for the physical health of our employees is vital, but we can’t ignore that mental health is part of overall health. Working in the trades, it is imperative for safety reasons that our staff be both physically and mentally well.”
The summit, which includes a full breakfast, is presented by the Seacoast Chamber Alliance, the Dover Mental Health Alliance, and the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative. Registration is $15 for chamber members and $20 for not-yet members. To register, visit dovernh.org/mentalhealth. The event is underwritten by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and sponsored by Kennebunk Savings and Rotary Club of Dover. The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative promotes individual wellness for Granite State citizens by empowering workplaces to provide support for people recovering from substance use disorder. For information visit recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com.