BRATTLEBORO — Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, a nonprofit, community mental-health agency for southeastern Vermont, will host a community concert with the Me2/Orchestra on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., at the Latchis Theatre.
The event is in honor of the agency's 50th anniversary, with the goal of promoting community awareness and destigmatizing mental health disorders and treatment.
More than 115,000 Vermonters are estimated to have experienced a mental illness during the past year. Many of these individuals are unwilling to seek help due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The Me2/Orchestra's mission is to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness through supportive classical music ensembles and inspiring performances.
The Me2/Orchestra consists of musicians living with mental illness and people who support them. Nearly 50 percent of the orchestra's members have a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, borderline personality disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Other musicians may not have a mental health condition themselves but join Me2/ to use their musical skills to further this vital social mission.
Founded in 1967, HCRS is a nonprofit, community mental health agency serving Vermonters in Windham and Windsor counties. The agency serves more than 4,500 individuals each year through its mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities programs. Visit www.hcrs.org for more information.