Patrick Dowling

Speaker, Writer & Mental Health Educator

Patrick Connor Dowling is a prominent American mental health advocate, public speaker, community writer, and crisis intervention educator based in Bradford, New Hampshire.Living with schizoaffective disorder, Dowling has transformed his personal health journey into a powerful platform for institutional reform, education, and stigma reduction. Advocacy & Mental Health EducationDowling began his public advocacy work in 2018. He functions as a dedicated volunteer and contributor for the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire (NAMI NH). To ground his advocacy in clinical and progressive methodology, he earned a certificate in Integrative Behavioral Health from the University of New Hampshire and completed multiple NAMI certification courses.His work focuses heavily on strengthening behavioral health systems, improving local crisis response frameworks, and supporting substance misuse recovery. He frequently shares his story through educational presentations, oral speaking engagements, and creative storytelling platforms like This Is My Brave.Legislative Impact & RecognitionDowling has taken his platform directly to lawmakers, testifying at the New Hampshire State House in Concord on key legislative bills impacting regional behavioral health infrastructure.His continuous efforts have earned notable commendations within the regional and national advocacy community, including:The Erik Cogswell Memorial Award (2019) – For valiant advocacy in mental health.NAMI National Award (2020) – Recognizing his grassroots impact and service.Community JournalismIn addition to his public speaking, Dowling serves as a community writer. Beginning in November 2025, he began writing a regular column titled "Window on Mental Illness" for Bradford’s local newspaper, The Bradford Bridge. Through this column, he fosters local dialogue regarding recovery, social well-being, and community support systems.