September 2026 Newsletter 

September was National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the current state of suicide in Vermont and across the country, have open conversations, and challenge the stigma around suicide and mental health challenges. 

We do this work every day at Pathways Vermont through our core programs that offer alternatives in mental health care that put the individual in the driver's seat. We approach this work by drawing on our lived experience to inform our conversations and interactions with staff, participants, and community partners. 

We see conversations about suicide as opportunities to build genuine connection. Instead of immediately shifting to risk assessment or intervention, we prioritize curiosity, validation, and compassion - recognizing that suicidal thoughts are a real and common part of the human experience.

The dominant approach to suicide often frames it as a crisis requiring urgent risk management. This can disrupt meaningful connection and, in some cases, cause more harm than good, leading to involuntary, forced treatment. Rather than focusing solely on preventing suicide at all costs, we choose to nurture relationships, believing that connection itself is a powerful force in helping individuals explore their experiences, find understanding, and create meaning in their lives.

Pathways Vermont's programs provide community-based mental health services and collaborative learning that center people as the experts of their own lives. We strengthen our communities and the system of care by elevating the voices of lived experience.

Join staff and community members at Morgan's Place and on Zoom Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm for the Conversations About Suicide Group!

Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free and open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff with lived experience of suicidality.

You can find the Zoom link on our Morgan's Place webpage by following this link. Please email [email protected] with any questions. 

The Vermont Support Line is open 24/7 via call or text and is a free resource for all Vermonters 18+.

The Vermont Support Line has been a valued resource in communities around Vermont since it's inception in 2013. 

Different from a crisis or emergency helpline, VSL is a warm line that focuses on interpersonal connection, confidential mental health support, and peer support. 

VSL Operators are local people who are ready to connect with you for a wide

range of issues: from the anger you feel after a bad day, to times when you feel alone, to when you need support for substance use, medical concerns, relationship challenges, or thoughts of suicide. 

Connection to someone who cares is always just a dial or text away. 

Rosewood Cottage Peer Respite is a free, voluntary, short-term, overnight program that provides community-based emotional support and crisis relief in a home-like environment.

Expanding access to peer respites has been a long-held vision for mental health peer providers in Vermont, and we are grateful for the support provided by the Four Pines Fund to make this vision a reality.

We have been pleased to work with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), which is evaluating Rosewood Cottage. 

In their recent report, it was found that about 1 in 4 Rosewood guests reported wanting to end their life at the beginning of their stay. 

By the time they left, this number had dropped to 1 in 8, a statistically significant 50% reduction. The majority (63%) of guests with suicidal ideation at entry indicated that they would have attempted to take their life if the peer respite had not been available.

This data truly highlights the impact that peer respites can have in supporting people experiencing thoughts of suicide and other mental health challenges. This also shows the power of connecting with others who share lived experience of similar challenges, as well as the value of alternatives in mental health care.

To learn more about Rosewood Cottage, call us at 888-492-8218 ext. 9 or follow this link to the Rosewood Cottage inquiry form. 

Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC) is located at 1 South Prospect Street in Burlington and offers a range of services, including peer support, which Pathways Vermont staff offer Monday through Friday, because connecting with someone who truly understands can make all the difference. 

“I think that’s what’s made our peer support space so successful,” says Rawnie Davis, a peer support specialist.

“We spend time with people who check in, keep them company, or just listen. Many people just want a quiet, safe space, without judgment or expectation.” 

All Pathways Vermont staff are trained in Intentional Peer Support, a practice that emphasizes mutuality, respect, and meeting people where they are. Guests coming into the Mental Health Urgent Care can expect to connect with staff who are there who listen, offer guidance, and connect around shared experiences.  

MHUC is a partnership between the Howard Center, Pathways Vermont, UVM Health Network, UVMMC, Community Health Centers, and the Vermont Department of Health.

Learn more about this innovative program here. 

Quote via UVM Health - UVM Medical Center 

Pathways Vermont Training Institute provides training and technical assistance for a wide variety of audiences, including peer support, community mental health, and other human service organizations. 

In the Conversations About Suicide Training, we explore ways to practice empathy and prioritize autonomy when engaging in conversations about suicide. 

We spend time unpacking suicide as a language of pain, then consider ways to support folks who are thinking about dying. Through sharing personal stories, opening up dialogue, and practicing difficult conversations, we will educate and support each other to remain curious, lean into discomfort, and center mutuality.

To stay up to date with Training Institute offerings, please sign up for their mailing list here.

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions. 

Extending our warmest gratitude to Noah Kahan and The Busyhead Project for inviting Pathways Vermont to table at Folk and Fairways on September 15th! 

Folk and Fairways is an incredible benefit concert and golf tournament supporting The Busyhead Project’s initiative aimed at providing resources and information needed to end the stigma around mental health. We were so proud to represent Pathways and our work providing community-based mental health services that center people as the experts of their own lives.

Thank you, Noah and The Busyhead team, for everything you are doing to support mental health in Vermont! 

Pathways Vermont provides innovative mental health services and collaborative learning that foster choice, connection, and community.

Your donation today will make a positive impact!

We are so grateful to each and everyone who supports Pathways Vermont. Your dedication to our mission is transforming lives. Thank you!