NMU and SVSU Partner on the BRIDGE UP Program to Address Mental Health Services and Education Opportunities

Northern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State University have teamed up to enhance behavioral health care in the Upper Peninsula through education opportunities for nursing students. Through BRIDGE UP Saginaw Valley State and Northern Michigan University will offer psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner training for 31 individuals in the region. The program funds are supported by a 2.6 million dollar grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services administration. The program will aim to spread care access across the region for mental health and addiction treatment. Suunta Integrative Health owner Melissa Copenhaver says that a region as large as the Upper Peninsula needs 75 full-time psychiatrists, however currently only 10 are available. Those interested in learning more about the partnership between Northern Michigan and SVSU to enhance mental health access and educational nursing opportunities in the Upper Peninsula can find more details here.