A powerful testimony at the New Hampshire Legislature's House Children and Family Law meeting on February 18, 2025, highlighted the potential dangers of House Bill 285, which seeks to consider parents' mental health conditions in custody hearings. Sarah Horn, a mental health advocate and mother, shared her personal journey with obsessive-compulsive disorder and emphasized that her past struggles do not define her parenting abilities. "I am proof that recovery is possible," she stated, urging lawmakers to focus on current behaviors rather than historical health issues.

Horn's concerns echoed throughout the meeting, as multiple mental health professionals and advocates voiced their opposition to the bill. They argued that singling out mental health conditions could perpetuate stigma and discourage individuals from seeking necessary treatment. Kevin Blanchett, a licensed mental health counselor, warned that the bill could deter parents from pursuing help, fearing it might be used against them in custody disputes.

Holly Stevens, director of public policy for NAMI New Hampshire, reinforced this sentiment, stating that simply having a mental illness does not inherently impact a person's ability to parent. "We should not be looking at a person's mental health, but their parenting actions and behaviors," she asserted. The current law already allows courts to consider a range of factors in custody decisions, making the proposed bill unnecessary and potentially harmful.

The meeting concluded with a clear consensus among opponents of the bill: mental health should not be treated differently from other health conditions. Advocates called for a focus on education for judges rather than legislation that could further stigmatize mental illness. As the committee deliberates, the implications of this bill could significantly affect the lives of families navigating the complexities of mental health and parenting.