[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 191 (Monday, November 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO BRIELLE PAQUETTE

 Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I am proud to recognize Brielle 
Paquette of Salem as October's Granite Stater of the Month. Brielle is 
using her creative talents as a videographer to help remove the stigma 
around mental illness and to help inspire her friends and neighbors to 
open up about their mental health struggles.
  Brielle grew up in a family of photographers and filmmakers. From an 
early age, she found her passion in filmmaking. As she got older, 
Brielle recruited her young cousins to participate in music videos that 
she would direct and film, all with the hope of putting a smile on 
people's faces.
  Brielle also grew up in a family with loved ones who experienced 
mental health challenges. Brielle's father struggled with alcohol 
abuse, and her mother lives with anxiety. Brielle developed an anxiety 
disorder, which she did not talk about with anyone, that left her 
feeling isolated from her peers.
  When she entered high school, Brielle decided to use her talents with 
a video camera to help break down the stigma around mental illness. In 
2019, Brielle submitted a PSA to a competition held by New Futures, a 
New Hampshire organization that seeks to promote health and wellness in 
the State.
  Brielle wanted to highlight the high rate of mental illness in young 
adults. To film the video, Brielle went to a crowded area in Boston 
with a sign that read ``20-50 percent of adolescents struggle with 
mental illness. Hug to show support for people who are struggling.'' 
Brielle then tied a blindfold on herself and accepted hugs from 
strangers as her mom filmed from afar.
  Brielle won the People's Choice Award for that video and since then 
has filmed other PSAs aimed at destigmatizing mental illness and 
encouraging people to open up about their struggles. She also uses her 
platform as Miss Londonderry to promote this important message. 
Additionally, as a member of her school's women empowerment club, she 
is working on the early stages of a new PSA on body positivity.
  I am proud to recognize Brielle for her efforts to break down the 
barriers that too often prevent us from talking about mental illness. 
By using her talents to help facilitate conversations about a difficult 
issue and raising awareness around mental health, Brielle exemplifies 
what it means to be a Granite Stater. I look forward to seeing what she 
accomplishes next.

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