With 17 years as a member of Westford’s Board of Health, 22 years as Stony Brook Middle School’s nurse, and a lifetime of being a mental health advocate under her belt, Sue Hanly is beginning a new chapter in Woburn after being a trailblazer for mental health awareness in Westford.
Earlier this month, Westford’s Select Board honored Hanly for 17 years of service to the town’s Board of Health. Hanly started her journey on the Board when there was an open position available, and the Health Director at the time, Sandy Collins, encouraged her to apply. Through this position, Hanly has been able to engage students and the community in the importance of mental health awareness.
According to current Board of Health Director, Rae Dick, Hanly has always advocated for all residents of the Westford community to have access to mental health care and support. She raised funding to bring the William James INTERFACE Referral Service to Westford, which is a free confidential referral service for residents of participating communities. Because of Hanly, the Westford community can now call or text the state’s Behavioral Help Line at (833) 773-2445 or Crisis Line at 988, and receive 24-hour free and confidential service. Additionally, she was a member of the Westford Community Behavioral Mental Health Committee.
“I am thrilled that the Board of Health Department has really moved in a big way into mental health education, and I feel good about the fact that I was kind of a squeaky wheel, because of my own personal experience. You realize how many people really don’t get it, and how painful it is when you’re struggling and that you feel so isolated. And normalizing it for people is huge,” Hanly said.
In addition to five of her siblings, one of Hanly’s daughters also struggled with severe mental health issues growing up, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Feeling helpless as she watched her go through these challenges, Hanly realized the importance of increasing awareness and education on mental health to everyone, but especially for students.
Due to her unique position as Stony Brook’s nurse as well as member on the Board of Health, Hanly was able to use her many resources to increase mental health literacy to students as well as the rest of the town. During this time Hanly visited the sixth grade Health classes, and taught about stress management. She also advocated for the use of mindfulness amongst all students and faculty, and brought these ideas to teachers during Professional Development days.
“Teachers at the high school totally knew about my daughter, Caroline. She was in her [English] class, they were doing Romeo and Juliet […] the teacher was wonderful, and she had Caroline go to the library during the times they were talking about [sensitive topics],” Hanly said. “If you share information with the teachers, it just helps them to be able to educate that child with a different lens, like just more sensitivity. It doesn’t mean you get a free pass. Like Caroline still had to do the work all the other kids had to do, but she was able to leave the classroom during that time. And I never forgot that.”
Not only did Hanly see the importance of mental health education for students and faculty, but also for parents. She was very involved in Westford Parent Connection, providing insight and resources, as well as co-chairing the town’s parent support group.
Though Hanly is leaving Westford, she will continue her passion in mental health advocacy through her work with Mental Health Collaborative, an organization dedicated to increasing mental health awareness and education as well as providing programs to decrease stigma. Additionally, she will continue teaching nursing students at Quinsigamond Community College, specifically encouraging her students to not only focus on the physical health of their patients, but specifically encouraging her students to also consider patients’ mental health.
“The greatest gift we can give to somebody is to look them in the eye, and listen,” Hanly said. “I also encourage, especially if you’re working with young people to let them know that you see them, that you care.”
With this impact, Hanly will be missed by those who worked closely with her. According to Dick, she has been a tremendous public health advocate, a supportive Board of Health member, and a mentor.
“She has dedicated her services to encourage residents of all ages that ‘it’s ok to not be okay’. She speaks about how important it is for everyone to take care of themselves and their mental health, that “mental health” is not a bad word,” Dick said.
