Summary
Dr. Hannah Studer reflects on National Recovery Month and National Suicide Prevention Month, sharing why recovery, connection and community are central to the work of Bridges to Change. She also highlights Washington County’s Overdose Awareness Day BBQ and looks ahead to BTC’s annual “Help Us Be There” campaign.
Recovery, Hope, and Being There
September holds deep meaning for me and for all of us at Bridges to Change. As we recognize National Recovery Month and National Suicide Prevention Month, I reflect on why this work matters so deeply and why I am so grateful to be part of a community committed to showing up for one another.
Recovery takes many forms. It can mean finding a safe place to sleep, reconnecting with family, beginning treatment, returning to the community after incarceration, navigating mental health challenges, or simply making it through another difficult day.
Sometimes, recovery begins with something as simple as having someone there who listens, believes in you, and reminds you that your life matters.
This month also asks us to hold space for loss. Overdose and suicide have touched countless families and communities, including my own. Those experiences remind me that behind every statistic is a person who was deeply loved, and that behind every story of recovery is a person whose future is still unfolding. At BTC, we have the privilege and responsibility of helping create more opportunities for those futures.
Looking Ahead
As we move into a new season, BTC continues to evolve alongside the communities we serve. We are strengthening our services, responding to a changing health and housing landscape, and looking for new ways to connect people with the housing, recovery, behavioral health, and peer support they need. What remains constant is our commitment to people.
We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to be, an opportunity to heal, and the chance to build a different future. This work is also stronger when our broader community is part of it. Over the coming months, we’ll share more stories, create new opportunities to connect with BTC, and invite our community to help us move this work forward.
Help Us Be There
Our annual End-of-Year Campaign begins in October, and this year our message is simple:
Help Us Be There.
Be there for someone looking for a safe place to begin again.
Be there for someone navigating recovery.
Be there for someone who needs to know they are not alone.
There are many ways to be part of this work: through giving, volunteering, partnering, sharing our stories, or helping someone connect to support. Please join us this year and help us be there for even more of our neighbors, friends, and people looking for a safe place to begin their recovery.
As I look forward to the months ahead, I am hopeful about what we can continue building together. I am grateful for the people who make this work possible and for a community that believes people deserve hope, dignity, connection, and another chance.
Recovery is possible. Connection matters. And being there is a first step.
Overdose awareness BBQ
Earlier this month, our Washington County team hosted an Overdose Awareness Day BBQ, bringing community members together for an afternoon of connection and hope. The gathering offered an opportunity to honor the individuals and families impacted by overdose, remember the lives we have lost, and recognize the strength and progress of the recovery movement.
More than an event, the BBQ served as a meaningful reminder that recovery is not simply a program or service; it is a community. It is built through people showing up for one another, sharing stories of resilience, creating space for healing, and continuing to believe that recovery and a different future are possible.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this gathering possible, as well as to every person who attended, offered support, and contributed to the spirit of connection that made the day so meaningful. Thank you to all who continue carrying this vital work forward every day!