Particle Accelerator will return for its 12th year Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Putnam’s Rotary Park. The free, all day music festival features 20 bands playing music of all genres and for all ages. The concert begins at noon and will continue until 9 p.m.
The annual benefit concert has two main goals.
The first is to raise funds and awareness to support suicide prevention training, a United Services public education initiative that helps the public identify people in the midst of a mental health crisis more readily and get them the resources and professional help they need before they harm themselves or others.
The second goal is to provide information and support for depression and suicide prevention, while promoting music and civic engagement as a healthy alternative to drug and alcohol abuse among young adults.
“We know there is still stigma attached to depression and substance abuse, and United Services is grateful to the work Particle Accelerator does to bring these issues out into the forefront in our community,” said Diane L. Manning, President and CEO of United Services.
The concert is organized by Putnam residents Jack and Grace Young and Eric and Sandy Gould with the help of many volunteer artists, bands, sound and lighting technicians and many others.
James and Debra St. Jean, owners of Chase Graphics in Putnam, join the event as honorary chairpersons this year.
The festival is held in memory of local musician Jack Young, Jr. In addition to the concert, the family-friendly festival will also feature art displays, children’s activities and booths from local nonprofit organizations providing information on various local behavioral health and human services. A basket drawing will also be held at the event.
Particle Accelerator has raised more than $50,000 for local mental health services.
For more information on Particle Accelerator and this year’s line up of bands, visit particle.rocks
United Services, Inc., is one of Connecticut’s most comprehensive private, non-profit behavioral health centers, providing psychosocial, behavioral health, chemical abuse, primary care, care coordination, wellness and prevention services to the community, and employee assistance program services for business and industry. United Services offers mental health assistance 24/7/365 at 860-774-2020. For more information visit UnitedServicesCT.org.
