Instructors are on the frontlines of the program and train people in their communities in Mental Health First Aid. Certified Adult and Youth Instructors are required to teach the course at least three times per year. Instructors also create, market and coordinate their classes while supporting their learners along the way. Instructors teach from a national curriculum, tailor discussions to their participants and compile a list of local resources for help.
Registered Pharmacist (MA/CT), Doctor of Pharmacy
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Education
Western New England University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Through years of pharmacy practice experience, specializing in mental health and substance use disorder, I saw firsthand the public concern for mental health and the lack of confidence and preparedness in responding to events of this type. Everyone can think of a time they witnessed or learned about someone experiencing mental health difficulties. I hope to be the missing piece needed before the next time you come across this type of situation so that you can respond with confidence. I became a Mental Health First Aid Instructor to equip the public with resources and training needed to be able to respond with comfort to mental health situations. The more our community familiarizes itself with various mental health concerns and resources available to direct community members to, the more empowered we will all feel, and the more we will be able to help one another.
Corporate Partnership: Willing and comfortable participating
LMFT–Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Senior Clinician/Education and Training Coordinator & Adjunct Professor of Psychology
I became a MHFA instructor to spread awareness and help continue to decrease stigma surrounding mental health. Being a therapist, I see firsthand the impact of stigma and misperceptions of mental health challenges. This has inspired me to want to educate and support anyone who wants to better understand mental health and how they can help when someone is needing support.
I am also an AAMFT-approved supervisor for graduate students obtaining their master’s degree in mental health counseling. I am also a certified yoga instructor, which is part of my own self-care plan that I put into practice and teach others to utilize when they need support with coping and self-help.
Amanda Charter is a seasoned higher education professional and has experience working with both graduate and undergraduate students as an advisor and academic coordinator. She joined Western New England University as a University Advisor in August 2021. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Westfield State University and a Master of Science in Human Services from Springfield College.
Amanda is passionate about advising, and thoroughly enjoys guiding students throughout their educational journeys. Her philosophy on advising involves supporting advisees not only with educational and career goals, but also with needs that go beyond course registration and class planning such as: goal-setting, self-care, time management, navigating/adjusting to college life, and career readiness.
Amanda is an avid animal lover and enjoys camping, traveling with her family, and crafting.
Why I became a MHFA trainer:
I have worked in higher education for ten years, and it has become apparent how crucial mental health care is not only within our student population and higher education, but nationwide, and across many different public and private sectors.
In my role as a University Advisor, students share their stories with me daily—some of which are full of adversity and often about struggles with depression and anxiety. I became MHFA certified in December 2021 and found it to be extremely helpful in my position. When the opportunity arose to become certified as a trainer in January 2023, I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to help others support our students and colleagues.
Beth Hill is the Director of Community Standards and Education. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Bridgewater State College in Mathematics and Secondary Education. She was introduced to the career of student affairs and residence life while obtaining a Master’s degree in Counseling from Bridgewater State College. Beth enjoys spending time with her family. She enjoys reading, being on the beach, and watching soccer.
Beth has worked in residence life, until solely focusing on community standards. These last three years, Beth has been working with students on making good decisions and exploring the reasons behind some choices. Beth also serves the community as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator, working to foster an inclusive environment and powerfully prepare our students for the future of work.
Beth became a MHFA instructor because she believes that educating more of our community about mental health will create a more welcoming, provide understanding and desire to help those in need. The stigma of mental health needs to be de-stigmatized and she believes that her presentation styles, coupled with her ability to educate and interact with various age, ethnic, race, sexual orientation populations, will evoke awareness.
Beth believes that it takes a village to help all of its members. Having over 30 years of working with students in higher education, it has become evident that the students, faculty, and staff all struggle with issues. Helping others become more agile-minded is where Beth hopes to prepare people to become stronger, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Juris Doctor, Columbia Law School
Assistant Dean of Law Career Services
I became a Mental Health First Aid instructor because I believe that educators and employers need to be mindful about the challenges faced by their students and employees. Working in Career Services I frequently interact with students who are dealing with extremely stressful job searches and know that this is just one of the many sources of stress for students. I’m also motivated by the fact that the legal profession is grappling with troubling rates of substance abuse and depression among practitioners and that increasing mental health awareness and decreasing stigma is vital to properly addressing the problem.
I believe we have an obligation to speak openly and honestly about mental health and to foster an inclusive environment that maximizes our student’s success, both in the university and once they enter the workforce. Mental Health First Aid is an awesome approach that helps reduce stigma around mental health issues and which can guide people towards healthier ways of dealing with stress and anxiety.
I am also trained in negotiation and mediation and am an avid gardner and committed dog person.
Marissa Ostroff is a Clinical Associate Professor of Ambulatory Care in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University. Dr. Ostroff received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA. She completed two post graduate residency training programs, the first at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, CT and the second with a focus in geriatric pharmacotherapy at the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC. Dr. Ostroff holds board certifications in Pharmacotherapy and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. Dr. Ostroff has worked at the college since 2014 and also has a practice site at Kidney Care & Transplant Services of New England where she works under a collaborative practice agreement and sees patients for chronic kidney disease and post-renal transplant.
Dr. Ostroff is an avid runner, peloton rider, and reader, and enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog outdoors and looks forward to spending time in the summer at the beach.
Dr. Ostroff became a mental health first aid instructor in September 2023, as she witnessed first-hand the struggles with mental health among her patients and students. She is hopeful that providing MHFA among the community will empower others to help those in need and during crisis.
B.A., Vermont College of Norwich University
M.S., Antioch University New England
Associate Provost and University Registrar, at WNE since 2016
I’ve always been interested in learning how to take care of others. In grade school I pored over the first aid section of my family’s encyclopedias, as a teenager I went through lifeguard training, in my twenties I volunteered on a domestic violence hotline, and in my thirties my dog became a Canine Good Citizen so we could go into nursing homes.
When I heard that WNE was looking for people to become Mental Health First Aid Instructors, it felt like a natural fit. And because I work in Enrollment Services, where we encounter every student who attends WNE, I wanted to be better prepared to assist those who are experiencing mental health challenges. But it wasn’t until the second day of the MHFA Instructor Training that I realized how much MHFA skills would have helped me and my family navigate my father’s lived experience with bipolar disorder. We didn’t know how to identify early or worsening signs and symptoms nor did we know how to intervene when crises hit. I kept thinking, “Wow, if I had gotten this kind of training when I was in college it could have made such a difference for our family.”
I feel fortunate to work somewhere that is making such an investment to empower so many members of our community to learn to deal with mental health challenges, allowing us to intervene earlier and have better outcomes.
It would have meant so much to me to have been better equipped to ease my father’s pain, but I look forward to helping train others to be able to help others in need.
Ph.D. Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education
Associate Professor of Education
I have dedicated my own professional development to gaining new knowledge and insight in the field of teacher education, as well as developing a deep understanding of the student population at WNE. I received my first MHFA Mental Health Certification fall of 2021. I decided to attend this professional development course during fall 2021 because of my experience working with first year students at WNE. There has been an increase in students seeking mental health support at the university and due to this trend, I felt that having my Mental Health First Aid certification would better help me support the student population at WNE. I wanted to continue to support the WNE community as whole through becoming a certified MHFA instructor.
Licensure and Education:
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Concentration in Geriatrics
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts State Board of Pharmacy
ASHP Accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency; Orientation to Learning & Teaching Program Certificate
ASHP Accredited PGY-2 Hematology – Oncology Residency
Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist ACCP Academy Certificate Program in Precision Medicine: Applied Pharmacogenomics and Oncology Genomics
Certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer
American Red Cross – Basic Life Support
Current Faculty Appointment at WNE: Clinical Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Additional Professional Affiliations:
Big Brother Big Sister USA (National Leadership Council)
Big Brother Big Sister of Central Mass/Metrowest (Board Member)
New England National Pharmaceutical Association – Treasurer (2023)
Areas of Expertise/Research: Pharmacy, Oncology, Hematology, Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity, Patient counseling, Drugs of abuse, Prescription Drug Abuse, Herbal Medicine, THC/CBD, Youth education and mentorship (WNE COPHS Summer Camp; Duggan Middle School Partnership)
Why I became a MHFA Trainer: Training for healthcare professionals, first-responders and everyday citizens often focuses on physical emergencies. Even small children are taught in schools how to recognize signs of an MI/Stroke and how to perform CPR while waiting for help. Unfortunately, society has not focused much on teaching professionals and the community how to recognize and respond with that same urgency to a mental health emergency. Instead of being transported to a hospital or mental health facility, society often treats people in a crisis as criminals, leading to high populations of people struggling with mental health disorders in the criminal justice system. Creating more awareness can lead to a positive and proactive attitude towards mental health treatment in our communities. Education can also decrease fear towards people in crisis, who are more likely to be a victim of a crime or unintentionally harmed by first-responders who are unaware of their current mental state. This is even more likely for people in minority populations (LGBTQ+, Black/African American, etc.) and young adults.
Corporate Partnerships: Willing and comfortable participating.
Fun Facts: In her spare time, Dr. Whitman-Jemison enjoys listening to live music, watching documentaries, and volunteering in her community.
