As New England College students approach the thick of the semester, it is important to highlight all of the great resources the school offers to its students who may be struggling mentally. Mid-terms and finals play a large role in the mental well-being of college students, with nearly 40% of students struggling with test related anxiety (Sage Journals Review of Educational Research). If you are a student at New England College, there are so many free resources to help you tackle your mental health issues during tough times.
New England College is home to an astounding health and wellness facility. Wellness at NEC is much more than physical health. NEC offers outstanding counseling services provided by trained professionals. The counseling department at NEC Wellness consists of five counselors who are all specially trained in their respective fields.
Julie Nicknair-Keon serves as the Director of Counseling at NEC, where she has been for the past nine years. Nicknair-Keon has 30+ years of experience in the field of counseling. She is a strong advocate for suicide prevention and stress management.
David Kells has been with New England College counseling since 2016. Kells is well-known with athletes on campus, as he meets with first-year athletes from every team on campus to introduce them to the counseling services available.
Erin Terry has nearly 20 years of clinical counseling and specializes in trauma treatment, more specifically in children and teens. She received her degree, an MS in Mental Health Counseling, from New England College.
New to the counseling team is Patience Ashey. She has over 10 years of experience with certifications in dialectical behavior therapy (regulation of emotions, improvement of relationships, cope with stress, etc.) and trauma treatments using art therapy.
Jennifer McAllister is the full-time counselor located on the Manchester campus. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker with a master’s degree from University of Southern California.
The school also brings in a psychiatric nurse practitioner twice a month to treat students further, if needed. Routine counseling services are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No problem is too small, and many times talking to someone who has an unbiased outlook can help tremendously in the college world.
The Wellness Center is located at 32 Union Street in Henniker and Concord Hall Room 105, 153 Concord Street in Manchester. Their phone numbers are 603-428-2253 and 603-836-2527, respectively. If you are struggling mentally, no matter how big or how small, reach out for help.
