Putnam’s Rotary Park was packed Saturday June 8 with local residents and families enjoying the gorgeous day and the free family event, Particle Accelerator: A Day of Music and Hope.

In its 13^th year, 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 $10,000 for local community behavioral health services.

The free, all day music festival featured 18 bands playing music of all genres and for all ages. The concert began at noon and continued until 11 p.m.

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.

“Particle Accelerator is a great opportunity to start a conversation about mental health, depression and suicide with a focus on recovery and hope,” said United Services President/CEO Diane L. Manning. “Organizers work throughout the year to make the day fun and informative for families and we are grateful for their work and for the many sponsors and businesses that support the event each year.”

Performers Saturday included: Kala Farnham, Adam Trudel, Llama Tsunami, The Papa Joe Show, Win the Fight, the Infinite Groove, OK and the Night Crew and more.

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 2015, with 44,193 suicides reported. This figure tops the 41,523 women who died of breast cancer in 2015, according to the CDC.

Saturday brought large crowds to the park, where residents could also learn about local mental health and other social service resources from United Services, Putnam PRIDE (Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone), the Windham County chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

Particle Accelerator’s Wall of Angels, a moving tribute to friends and family members lost the suicide, honored more than 270 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.