Portsmouth Regional Hospital today announced a $25,000 grant from the HCA Healthcare Foundation to Connor’s Climb Foundation to expand access to suicide prevention education and ensure more students and adults are equipped to recognize warning signs and respond with life-saving intervention.
Connor’s Climb Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention education through awareness, stigma reduction and community engagement. The organization equips youth, educators and community members with tools and resources focused on the vulnerable 10–24 age group across New Hampshire and neighboring communities.
“Connor’s Climb Foundation’s commitment to suicide prevention programming and mental health awareness is creating safe, supportive spaces across the Seacoast to discuss mental health openly,” said Sean Patterson, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. “Its mission aligns closely with HCA Healthcare’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund by strengthening youth mental health, building resilience and equipping communities to intervene before a crisis occurs — helping ensure a healthier tomorrow for young people.”
Since its founding, Connor’s Climb Foundation has partnered with more than 140 schools and trained over 15,000 adults across New Hampshire.
“We are incredibly grateful to the HCA Healthcare Foundation for this investment in our mission,” said Lindsay Gilbert, executive director of Connor’s Climb Foundation. “This grant will allow us to train approximately 750 additional adults and engage nearly 4,000 more students through stigma-reducing education and peer-focused mental health activities.”
This grant is part of the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s Community Catalyst Grant Program through the Healthier Tomorrow Fund, a community impact initiative focused on expanding access to care and addressing critical local health needs.