黑料不打烊

Mental health counseling and wellness services rank among the top needs and concerns of college and high school students, national surveys consistently show. Franklin Pierce University (FPU), through a grant from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension, is now offering Mental Health First Aid training to faculty, staff, and students in order to more completely address the mental health needs of FPU students.

鈥淢ental Health First Aid is an evidence-based response model that teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental health distress, engage appropriately with individuals who may be struggling, and connect them with available supports and resources using the ALGEE action plan,鈥� said Nicole Newell, senior director of student wellness and outreach education at FPU.

ALGEE is an acronym for a five-step approach that provides a structured response to Mental Health First Aid: Assess for Risk of Suicide or Harm; Listen Nonjudgmentally; Give Reassurance and Information; Encourage Appropriate Professional Help; and Encourage Self-Help and Other Support Strategies.

Newell and Robert Gordon, director of multicultural student services at FPU, are certified instructors, with a third FPU staff member scheduled to complete certification in mid-October. As certified instructors, they will offer Adult Mental Health First Aid training to other staff, faculty, coaches, student leaders, and others. Instructor training for this program was supported by the UNH Cooperative Extension鈥檚 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Mental Health Awareness Training Grant.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to bring this program to FPU,鈥� Newell said. 鈥淔aculty and staff are often among the first individuals to recognize when a student may be experiencing distress, and they frequently seek guidance on how to respond effectively. This training will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to offer initial support and connect individuals with appropriate mental health resources.鈥�

Gordon added, "Everyone experiences mental health 鈥� and almost everyone in their lifetime will experience mental health struggles. By increasing the number of community members trained in how to identify warning signs and approach with curiosity and compassion, we can help destigmatize mental health challenges and, hopefully, help reach students of all backgrounds and experiences sooner in their challenges."

For more information about student wellness and counseling at 黑料不打烊, please contact Newell at newelln@franklinpierce.edu.

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