Putnam’s Rotary Park was filled once again on Saturday August 7 with live music and local residents and families enjoying the gorgeous day and the free family event, Particle Accelerator: A Day of Music and Hope.

After moving the concert online last year, Particle returned to an in-person concert for its 15^th year in 2021. Particle Accelerator is an annual benefit concert that raises awareness for suicide and depression and funds for United Services. Saturday’s concert raised just over $8,000 for local community behavioral health services.

The free, all day music festival featured 15 bands playing music of all genres and for all ages. The concert began at noon and continued until 8 p.m.

“Particle’s 15th year was a wonderful day of music and hope,” said event co-founder Grace Young. “The weather cooperated, the bands were phenomenal, and getting together out in the sunshine after last year’s pandemic made the event seem new again.”

The festival started in 2007 by family and friends of Putnam resident Jack Young Jr., who died by suicide on his 27^th birthday that year. Event organizers include Grace and Jack Young Sr. and Eric and Sandy Gould, all of Putnam.

The annual benefit concert has two main goals, organizers said. The first is to raise funds and awareness to support United Services, Inc., one of Connecticut’s most comprehensive private, non-profit behavioral health centers, providing mental and behavioral health education, prevention, treatment and social services to the children, adults and families of northeastern Connecticut since 1964.

“As we all continue to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to start conversations in our communities and homes about mental health, depression and suicide,” said United Services President/CEO Diane L. Manning. “Particle Accelerator and United Services are here to help.”

Performers Saturday included: synerGy, Kala Farnham, Llama Tsunami, ilyAIMY, Elaine Drive, Infinite Groove, OK and the Night Crew and more.

“When I’m up there announcing bands, I look out into the crowd and I see hope, happiness and folks putting their differences aside to have a little fun, if only for a few minutes,” said event co-founder Eric Gould. “It’s an honor to help make that happen and I can’t thank all of these artists that donate their time and talent every year enough, nor can I thank organizers, volunteers and fans enough. I love every single one of you from the bottom if my heart.”

The second event 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.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the 10^th leading cause of death for Americans in 2020, with 47,511 suicides reported.

Saturday brought large crowds to the park, where residents could also learn about local mental health and other social service resources from United Services, the Windham County chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Norwich Vet Center and Supporting and Engaging Resources for Action and Change (SERAC).

Particle Accelerator’s Wall of Angels, a moving tribute to friends and family members lost to suicide, honored more than 280 people this year with photos on the wall and the lighting of luminaria at dusk.

About United Services, Inc.

United Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit and comprehensive behavioral health center, creating healthy communities throughout northeast Connecticut for nearly 50 years through mental health and social service programs, chemical abuse treatment, domestic violence programs, and community behavioral health prevention and education programs.  With 12 locations and a staff of over 250, United Services operates more than 30 separate behavioral health programs, including the only domestic violence shelter for women and children in the region.  United Services is also the designated Youth Service Bureau in 10 towns within its service area, and its Center for Autism has recently brought specialized treatment and programs for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families to eastern Connecticut and surrounding areas.  United Services, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  To learn more, visit www.UnitedServicesCT.org.