BCC Nursing Programs Integrate Mental Health First Aid Certification

08:13AM / Thursday, April 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) has added Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification as a mandatory component for all students in their final semester of the associate degree in nursing and practical nursing programs.

The requirement, based on the curriculum provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, aims to equip graduating nursing students with the skills to identify and respond to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.

Data from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention indicates an average of 130 daily deaths by suicide in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly one in five adults in the United States live with a mental illness. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 841,000 drug overdose deaths between 1999 and 2019.

The MHFA course provides training in recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use issues, offering initial support, and connecting individuals with appropriate professional resources. The curriculum covers risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction, strategies for crisis and non-crisis intervention, and available resources for help. Specific topics include depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, and substance use disorders.

Lori Moon, Dean of Nursing at BCC, stated the college's belief in the essential nature of this certification for healthcare professionals. She also expressed hope for broader adoption of MHFA training across BCC faculty, staff, and programs.

"We believe this certification is essential for all healthcare professionals, and our students stand out by graduating with this credential. We hope that more BCC faculty, staff and programs will adopt this initiative and make completing this training a priority as we face increasing mental health challenges in our society," said BCC Dean of Nursing Lori Moon, who noted that two BCC full-time nursing faculty members, Katie Polchlopek and Kim VanDeusen, have completed MHFA instructor training through a BCC workforce initiative and are now certified as First Aiders in this curriculum.

Instructor certification requires a three-day training program that includes pre-work, a written exam, and a teaching presentation. Certified instructors are required to teach the MHFA course at least three times per year to maintain their certification.

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Free Vaccinations Available Throughout Berkshire County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Saturday, October 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fall season is also the flu season, which means vaccine clinics are now available.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative will provide public vaccination clinics in Berkshire communities this fall, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. There are about 49 clinics.

The collaborative began during COVID-19 to help vaccinate people across Berkshire County. Berkshire Health Systems started the Get Vaccinated Berkshires website and still manages it. The group works with the Pittsfield Public Health Department, Community Health Programs, and the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative.

"The majority of people will always get the flu [vaccine] because, as I said, if you've ever gotten the flu, you will always get a flu vaccine because it's so bad. And just so you know, the flu is already in Berkshire County. It's an early season this year," said Leslie Drager, who is the senior public health nurse at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Drager said last year they issued 2,705 vaccines, with more than 1,100 of them being for COVID-19 and more than 1,500 being flu. In total, they were able to vaccinate 1,669 people in Central and North County, in addition to Pittsfield.

Drager also said she will be carrying three types of COVID vaccines this year, which is in high demand.

"We have a high demand of COVID vaccine, which is awesome," she said. "So we're doing a lot of COVID vaccines. Also, I provide Pfizer, and this year I have Moderna and the Novavax, which I think is real important to get out there because the Novavax, a lot of people want, people with long COVID. So I'm carrying all three vaccines this year, which I normally only carry the Pfizer."

Public health departments also can help people access other vaccines such as for measles or meningitis when they cannot get them through a pediatrician, she added.

Using the website, people are able to get vaccines even if they are homebound by filling out a form.

All public Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative clinics are free of charge, but registrants are asked to provide insurance information, when available, in order to defray costs. The clinics are open to anyone 6 months of age or older, the age group recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine and the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

"I always encourage everybody to wear a short sleeve shirt because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to get at," Drager said. "And children, we do carry the nasal flu, the live virus of nasal flu for kids that are afraid to get needles."

Registration is highly recommended for the clinics. Walk-ins may be accepted depending on the number of vaccine doses available at each clinic, with preference given to those who are registered.

"It's really important. I'm really encouraging vaccinations for the schools, because not only you know if the kids are vaccinated and the teachers are vaccinated, the schools won't have the flu go wild right through it," Drager said. "And of course, the best way to prevent infections: washing your hands. So don't touch your face, and wash your hands."

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