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Educators Learn to Identify Mental Health Issues

understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. After completing the training and testing, participants become certified as Mental Health First Aiders through the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.

At Northern Essex, the course is taught by Human Services Professor Kathleen Bartolini, who transitioned to teaching after a 20-year career as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.

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Recognizing that many college students struggle with anxiety and depression, Northern Essex is working proactively to identify these students and connect them with help.

In the two years it’s been offered at the college, 150 members of the faculty and staff have completed the national Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) certification training through the college’s Center for Professional Development.

The eight-hour training course teaches participants to identify,

“As part of this course, we are going to have hard conversations; you’re going to know what to do next in any situation,” Bartolini explains. “Having this certification, you can identify the problem, and know when it’s important to step in. You can be the difference.”

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