Season 1, Episode 3

Supporting NH’s Young Adults: Where Can Communities Put Their Energy?

Dec 20, 2021

Julie Nicknair-Keon and Ashley Desrochers tell us how New Hampshire's young adults are dealing with the high cost of living, low wages, access to affordable education and training and a lack of resources to deal and cope with life’s challenges. They share resources for healthy living, lifelong learning and emotional well-being.

Experts agree that during the developmental phase of young adulthood, the major tasks for young people (ages 18 – 25) are to establish independence, take responsibility for their emotional well-being, and identify and develop intimacy. Young adults are in a defining life stage as they establish connections, habits, and behaviors that have a lifelong impact on their career, family, finances, and health.

We are joined by Julie Nicknair-Keon, LCMHC, with Warren Street Family Counseling Associates in Concord and Ashley Desrochers, Public Health Program Manager with the Strafford County Public Health Network, to talk about what they’ve seen in terms of supporting young adults during this phase in their development. They will talk about the findings from a study the NH Department of Health and Human Services conducted as part of the project Voices of NH Young Adults. The purpose of the survey was to better understand why our young adults are struggling and how their unique challenges can be addressed.

Explore more on the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

Partnership @drugfreeNH – Young Adult Resources – Find resources to support young adults in exploring and securing their identity, independence and intimacy, and becoming responsible adults who create happy and healthy families, develop into strong leaders, and contribute to a vibrant workforce and economy.

2019 NH Young Adult Assessment – Download a copy of the full report.

Botvin LifeSkills(™) – Evidence-based prevention programs for schools, communities and families.

Mental Health First Aid™ – Learn how to help a youth, teen or adult cope with a developing mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. This eight-hour training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Stay Work Play – A statewide organization creating opportunities and the conditions for young people to stay, work and play in NH.

The Doorway NH – A statewide service that supports any NH resident, of any age, with a substance or alcohol concern or issue.

NH 211 – A comprehensive source of information about local resources and services to help you take care of yourself.

Host & Guests

Featured Guest:

Ashley L. Desrochers, Julie Nicknair-Keon, LCMHC NCC

Host: Christin D’Ovidio

Transcript

Episode Transcript (PDF)

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Ashley Desrochers, Public Health Program Manager for Strafford County Public Health Network, has worked in the field of prevention, intervention and treatment for seven years. During the pandemic she harnessed her previous background in crisis work to serve on two emergency operation teams in her region. Prior to starting her career in public health and social services, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies. In her spare time, she serves on two boards of directors and enjoys music, fishing, skiing and gardening.

Julie Nicknair-Keon is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in New Hampshire and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She has over 25 years of counseling experience in a variety of settings using a holistic, strength-based, and person-centered approach. Julie’s practice primarily relies on a variety of techniques including Mindfulness, Acceptance, Cognitive Behavioral and Sensorimotor therapies, as well as providing educational understanding regarding one’s personal development and overall health and wellbeing. Julie believes in embracing one’s humanness. She considers herself a generalist treating individuals with varying challenges/experiences including but not limited to anxiety, depression, grief, life changes, and trauma. She has a particular interest in working with older adolescents, young adults, adults, and first responders.

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