Mayor Grassie poised to form mental health task force

Rochester Mayor Chuck Grassie (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER = Mayor Chuck Grassie announced on Friday that he will form a task force to address youth mental health challenges in the community.

During his campaign last fall, Mayor Grassie went door to door and heard directly from parents and families about the issues facing young people. Concerns included bullying, student stress, homelessness among students, and access to mental health support. Many families shared that these challenges have become more noticeable since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, the mayor has been developing a plan to better support youth and families in Rochester.

The task force, which is still in development, will work to identify the wide range of resources currently available to teens and youth, while also examining gaps in services. According to Grassie, many young people must seek care outside the city, as there are no specialized adolescent mental health programs in Strafford County.

Grassie plans to work closely with Frisbie Memorial Hospital and other local mental health professionals to bring together students, parents, school officials, and mental health professionals. The group will discuss the challenges youth are facing and explore ways to strengthen services.

"The task force will focus on understanding the needs of local youth, connecting individuals to existing resources, and developing new pathways where services are lacking," said Grassie.

Additionally, the task force will also work closely with Juvenile Court Diversion Coordinator Nicole Rodler from the Rochester Police Department to help connect youth and families with appropriate resources.

"We want to de-stress our young people, provide resources, and prepare them well for the future," said Grassie. "We want to deal with the problems now before our youth end up in the criminal justice system."

Mayor Grassie has appointed City Councilor Chuck Creteau chair of the task force and will announce additional members in the coming weeks. He will also work with the school board to ensure school representation.