NEC awarded $775,000 grant for Community Mental Health training

New England College has been awarded a $775,000 Grant to strengthen the community mental health workforce preparation in New Hampshire. This grant will help expand academic facilities and hands on training to address critical mental health workforce needs. The grant will help fund the continued renovations of the Austin and Betty Ann Kovacs Science Center– by helping enhance the space to offer classrooms and training opportunities in the Community Mental Health Workforce. 

Kathy Simon is a professor at New England College in the Department of Psychology and Community Mental Health Science, Health, and Exercise Division. She said she is excited to continue teaching in the field. With hands-on experience, Simon brings passion to the field and to New England College.

“The hope is that it (the Community Mental Health Program) will help people to see the importance of community mental health… and even knowing what community health is, because very often people don’t know what that is,” she said. 

Simon explained that Community Mental Health is any mental health service that is happening in the community. Such as: substance use services, prenatal services, and crisis services. 

Simon emphasizes that getting this grant is going to help share the importance of Community Mental Health, and make New England College a leader in Community Mental Health care and training.