Eastern Maine Medical Center Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Cen

Please see the following excerpt from the Northern Light Health Annual Report 2024 to the Community for details of community benefit projects at NLH members:Thinking Globally, Acting LocallyAs we reflect on the past year at Northern Light Health, we are reminded of our responsibility to deliver exceptional care while adapting to and rising up to meet our challenges. This years annual report theme, thinking globally, acting locally, demonstrates how we remain focused on our promise of making healthcare work for Maine people. In this 2024 annual report, we share many remarkable stories. You will read about how we eliminated a common operating room gas out of concern for our environment, how mobile mammography brings services to rural areas, how a youth summit addresses mental health challenges, a patients journey through gender-affirming voice therapy, and one familys experience of becoming caregivers.These stories highlight our promise to meet local needs while contributing to global solutions. Weve persevered, strengthened services, and stayed true to promise.Thank you for your trust, partnership, and support as we navigate this journey together.Timothy J. Dentry, MBA, President & CEO Northern Light Health John Ryan Board Chair Northern Light HealthMember MapBangor Northern Light Acadia Hospital Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical CenterNorthern Light Health Foundation Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Pharmacy Northern Light Work Health Northern Light Work ForceBrewer Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Northern Light Health Home Office Northern Light Pharmacy Pittsfield Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Northern Light Work HealthWaterville Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Inland Hospital Northern Light Work HealthEllsworth Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital Northern Light Work HealthBlue Hill Northern Light Blue Hill HospitalPortlandNorthern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Laboratory Northern Light Mercy Hospital Northern Light Pharmacy Northern Light Healthy Life EAP Northern Light Work HealthPresque Isle Northern Light AR Gould Hospital Northern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Work HealthGreenville Northern Light CA Dean HospitalDover Foxcroft Northern Light Mayo Hospital Northern Light Work HealthYouth Mental HealthDont dance around the issueThe needs of teen mental health have reached alarming levels in Maine, and a group of passionate student volunteers at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has responded. The Youth Mental Health Summit was established to provide tools, support, and the understanding necessary to better navigate the complexities of adolescent mental health.Stella Fox, a student volunteer manager and senior at Hampden Academy, says she had her own journey with mental health. Im a pretty busy person. I am someone who, if Im not busy, I try to find things to make my life busier, she laughs, describing her packed schedule.As part of that busy life, Fox struggles with the internal pressures of being a teenager, especially in the demanding world of dance. There is a lot of pressure in dance about a certain look youre supposed to have, she adds, Obviously, thats tough for anybody to hear. But when youre going through your teen years, youre facing a lot of other pressures and challenges. Fox and her fellow student manager and student at John Bapst, Ada Sinclair-Steele, are passionate about making a difference. Each year, high school students who participate in the volunteer program at the medical center work on a passion project for a cause that they choose. In 2024, the group chose youth mental health."I really didnt know that much about mental health when we started, Fox admits, But as we brainstormed and discussed different ideas, I realized how crucial it was to create a space where teens could learn how to take care of their mental health.Stacey Coventry, the director of community engagement at Eastern Maine Medical Center helped guide the students. For this passion project, one of the things we talked about was wanting to have a community forum that brought adults and peers together to openly have a dialogue about all the things that contributed to their mental health. Everything from bullying to stress in schools, social media, suicide awareness and prevention, and grief and bereavement, all the different things that affect our mental health. They wanted to have a dialogue, but also have a way to show kids that there are other ways that they can cope with these things.The summit featured a variety of activities, from art therapy and nature-based therapy to animal-assisted therapy and open panel discussions. We jumped right into adventure-based activities, because to learn about adventure-based activities through a lecture seems counterintuitive. We had them doing things like a pool noodle shuffle, which is when everybody holds a pool noodle and at the same time they have to let go of their pool noodle and grab the noodle of the person next to them without letting it hit the floor, and we let them work through some of their frustrations, explains Shane Mack McPherson, psychiatric technician and activities coordinator, Northern Light Acadia Hospital. Having summits like this is important because there are not many of them around here, especially geared toward high school students, says Sinclair-Steele, So many teens struggle with mental health challenges and this helps provide resources to seek help within our communities.Coventry was moved by the students engagement. I was hoping they would feel less alone and walk away with a new way to manage their mental health, she says, I also hoped theyd be excited to share what theyd learned with their peers and family members. The summit wasnt just about learning new coping mechanisms; it was also about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. It was designed to create a safe, open space for teens to discuss mental health and learn effective coping strategies.As the day ended, Fox shared her thoughts. If youre willing to talk about it, you should, she said, Its about giving hope to others. Once you tell your story, other people will feel comfortable enough to tell theirs, and that will help them become more open about their struggles. Hopefully, when they do, theyll realize theyre not alone.Northern Light Maine Coast HospitalTurning pages early: New program welcomes babies with their first library cardNorthern Light Maine Coast Hospital is proud to partner with the Ellsworth Public Library by launching Babys First Library Card, an initiative promoting early literacy and a lifelong love of reading. Beginning in May 2024, every baby born at our Dixon Family Birthing Center receives a welcome package that includes an age-appropriate book and an application for a complimentary library card from the Ellsworth Public Library, regardless of residency.This program, funded in memory of Melanie Zadoran avid hospital and library volunteerhonors her dedication to community enrichment through literacy. Our team is excited to support families in fostering early reading habits with their babies, shares Sarah Joy, director of Philanthropy for Northern Light Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals. This collaboration is a meaningful way to celebrate Melanies legacy and connect families with valuable resources. The community resource is about more than books. I think its undersold because everyone thinks that the library is just to take out books and its not, explains Carrie Barnes, RN, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital. There are so many other things the library offers like playgroups and reading time for moms and their kids. Its easy as a new parent to feel isolated, and these programs help keep them connected.Sarah Lesko, Ellsworth Library director adds, Reading is one of the most important skills we have in lifelong learning, so we are thrilled to partner with Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital to welcome our newest community members.