Sweetser Opens New Peer Center in Brunswick

Posted October 26, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

Sweetser has officially opened our SupportME Peer Center in Brunswick, offering Mainers struggling with mental health or substance use challenges a free, judgment-free community resource.

Located at 329 Bath Road next to our Hope & Healing Center, the facility will serve residents in Brunswick and throughout Sagadahoc, Knox, Waldo, and Lincoln Counties. The center is the sixth of its kind in Maine and the only peer center serving the Midcoast.

The purpose of a peer center is to create a welcoming, judgment-free space where people come together to connect, share, and support one another at all stages of their recovery journey.

The center offers daily peer-run groups, life skills workshops, and one-on-one support, all staffed by trained peer support specialists—individuals who have their own personal connection to mental health or substance use challenges. The facility is entirely free to use, with no payment, insurance, or barriers required. Community members don’t even need to provide their full name—they can simply “come as you are.”

This expansion builds on Sweetser’s existing peer support infrastructure, including a 24/7 Peer Support Warm Line that fielded 30,000 calls last year alone. We currently employ 53 peers with lived experience in roles across Maine, working in emergency rooms and various mental health programs.

The SupportME Peer Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Community members can connect with staff at 207-373-3005 or email PeerCenter@sweetser.org. More information is available at Sweetser.org/PeerCenter.

Check out the news stories from our opening:

WMTW Channel 8

NEWS CENTER Maine

WGME Channel 13

TV Segment: How Humor Can Improve Your Mental Health

Posted October 20, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

Laughter is truly the best medicine!

It’s a vital coping strategy and a powerful tool to bring joy into your life. Did you know laughing can:

Uplift Your Mood: It triggers endorphins—your body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Reduce Stress: It lowers stress hormones, leading to a state of calmness.
Foster Social Connection: It’s a powerful tool to combat loneliness!

Life’s too short not to laugh! Let’s share some laughs for a great cause—fueling mental health treatment for those who need it most at our Smiles of Sweetser Comedy Show.

We’ve got a stellar line-up of New England talent, including headliner Will Noonan (named “Boston’s Best Comedian”!), Rob Steen, Gabriel Perez, and Amy Tee, who brilliantly uses her humor to advocate for mental health.

TV Segment: Can a Lack of Quality Sleep Impact Mental Health?

Posted October 17, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

About one in three adults doesn’t get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep each night, and an estimated 50–70 million Americans live with a sleep disorder. But lack of quality rest doesn’t just leave us groggy—it can have a significant impact on our mental health.

Sweetser’s Chief Communications Officer Justin Chenette explained to WMTW’s Meghan Torjussen that sleep and mental health are closely intertwined. Poor sleep can worsen mental health challenges, and mental health conditions can, in turn, disrupt sleep.

Watch the full segment below:

Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention

Posted October 15, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

Sweetser was honored to recently take part in the recent Out of Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention in Portland, joining community members, advocates, and families to raise awareness and support those affected by suicide.

Sweetser’s team hosted a table at the event to help break the stigma around mental health and to share hope, resources, and support. Sweetser was proud to stand with others in the fight for prevention and healing.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, dial 988 at any time. You can also call Sweetser’s Peer Support Line at 866-771-9276.

TV Segment: Adult ADHD Rates Rising

Posted October 10, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

ADHD isn’t just a childhood condition—recent data shows that over 15 million American adults are currently living with ADHD and adult diagnosis rates doubled between 2020-2022, especially among women. Sweetser’s Medical Director, Dr. Marc Kaplan spoke to WMTW Channel 8 on their Mental Health Moment segment to discuss.

Watch the segment below:

Ruel Ricker Country Fair 2025

Posted October 8, 2025 by Jessica Tornatore

Ruel Ricker Day at our Saco Campus is an annual day that celebrates Ruel Ricker – Sweetser’s farm manager from 1941 through the 1970s.

Shout to our amazing staff at our school, led by our Director of Education, Kimberly Holmes, for organizing the event, and to our fellow team members and board members who came to help run the variety of activities and games.

We also had strong support from our corporate partners Unum and Saco and Biddeford Savings. It was a wonderful day for our students and their families!

NEW DATE: Ghoulish Golf postponed to Nov. 1st

Posted October 5, 2025 by Justin Chenette

Thanks for joining us for Ghoulish Golf! We hope you enjoyed our spooky community event. For more events in support of mental health, check out our upcoming community fundraisers.

Due to poor weather, Aquaboggan’s Ghoulish Golf has been postponed to this Saturday, November 1st, from 6:00–9:30 PM.

Join us for some spooky, family-friendly fun at this Halloween-themed mini golf event – all in support of Sweetser’s mental health services.

Enjoy fried dough, warm apple cider, popcorn, and more! Dress up in costume for $2 off admission. 🎃

Bring your family, friends, and co-workers for a night of fun for all ages in support of our mental health mission. Located at 980 Portland Road in Saco.

Smiles for Sweetser Comedy Show

Posted October 5, 2025 by Justin Chenette

Thank you to everyone who made our first Smiles for Sweetser Comedy Show a huge success! We hope we made you smile. 🙂 Check-out our upcoming community events here.

Every laugh helped support hope and healing for those in need. Stay tuned for our 2026 date!

Definitive Brewing Company Bingo Night – Oct 15th

Posted October 5, 2025 by Justin Chenette

Thank you for joining us! Click here for more upcoming events.

Enjoy a fun night of Bingo, draft brews, and delicious bites for a great cause!

On October 15th, Definitive Brewing is teaming up with Sweetser to host a fun-filled Bingo Night for mental health. During the evening, 20% of all draft sales will go to supporting Sweetser’s vital mental health services. Stop by Sweetser’s resource table for swag giveaways and information about how you can support mental wellness in your community.

Maine Beer Company Community Pizza Night for Sweetser – Oct 8th

Posted October 5, 2025 by Justin Chenette

Thank you for supporting mental health in our communities. 🙂 For more community events, click here.

Join us Wednesday, October 8th for our Community Pizza Night hosted by Maine Beer Company in Freeport. From 4:00-8:00 PM, 20% of all food sales go to supporting Sweetser’s critical mission. Stop in for a slice for mental health. Located at 525 US Route 1, Freeport, ME.