Senator Hassan Recognizes Loreley Godfrey of Portsmouth as May’s Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON – To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Loreley Godfrey of Portsmouth as May’s Granite Stater of the Month. At 18 years old, Loreley has become a powerful voice advocating for youth mental health education in New Hampshire.

Loreley was inspired to act after witnessing her best friend have a panic attack while Loreley was driving. Loreley felt ill-equipped to handle the situation, and she did not know what to do besides hold her friend’s hand and urgently search online for resources.

After that experience, Loreley began realizing that many other young people are unprepared to respond appropriately to a mental health crisis. As a result, she teamed up with a New Hampshire State Senator to craft a bipartisan bill to provide schools with lesson plans on mental health. Although the bill did not pass the House in April, Loreley is committed to continuing her advocacy for mental health education in New Hampshire, even as she goes off to college this fall.

Loreley’s efforts are a testament to how young people can make a tremendous difference in New Hampshire. And her leadership extends beyond mental health advocacy, having led multiple rallies for sustainability in Portsmouth and being one of New Hampshire’s first female Eagle Scouts. Loreley exemplifies the Granite State spirit of engaged, citizen-led public service, and I look forward to seeing all that she will do in the future to make New Hampshire and our country an even better place.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month, I am honored to recognize Loreley Godfrey of Portsmouth as May’s Granite Stater of the Month. At age 18, Loreley has become a powerful force advocating for youth mental health education in New Hampshire. 

Loreley was driving when her best friend had a panic attack next to her in the passenger’s seat. Pulling to the side of the road, Loreley felt ill-equipped to handle the situation, and she did not know what to do besides hold her friend’s hand and urgently search online for resources.

The experience made Loreley wonder why many teens such as herself are not prepared to respond to a mental health crisis, where seconds can make a difference. Since she was a member of the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council on Substance Misuse and Prevention, she interviewed the 17 other students on the panel and found that her experience was not unique — few had had any mental health education at school.

Loreley teamed up with a New Hampshire State Senator to craft a bipartisan bill to provide schools with lesson plans on mental health. Although the bill did not pass the House in April, Loreley is committed to continuing her advocacy for mental health education in New Hampshire, even as she goes off to college this fall.

Loreley’s efforts are a testament to how young people can make a tremendous difference in New Hampshire. And her leadership extends beyond mental health advocacy, having led multiple rallies for sustainability in Portsmouth and being one of New Hampshire’s first female Eagle Scouts. Loreley exemplifies the Granite State spirit of engaged, citizen-lead public service, and I look forward to seeing all that she will do in the future to make New Hampshire and our country an even better place.

###