MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University is partnering with Saginaw Valley State University to enhance behavioral health care in the Upper Peninsula by expanding educational opportunities for advance practice nurses at a cost savings of nearly 85%.

Through the BRIDGE UP program, SVSU is offering its psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner training in collaboration with NMU to 31 U.P. nurse practitioners annually. The program is funded with a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration.

“There’s an extreme shortage of professionals in the Upper Peninsula who can provide mental health care and addiction treatment or manage medication,” said Amy Poirier, PMHNP clinical coordinator at NMU. “Upon completion of this program, graduates will be eligible to take the certification exam and provide all of these services. The program involves online classwork through SVSU, clinical placements with various patient populations in the U.P., and hands-on workshops at NMU to reduce travel requirements.”

The BRIDGE UP project aims to expand access to mental health and addictions treatment for the people who need it, while also addressing the pressing need to reduce health inequities in rural Michigan. SVSU and NMU have established two academic-practice partnerships — with Suunta Integrative Health and Great Lakes Recovery Centers, both in the U.P. — to provide students with a longitudinal clinical immersion.

“Based on population numbers, it is estimated that the U.P. needs about 75 full-time equivalent psychiatrists; however, there are under 10 FTEs available,” said Suunta owner Melissa Copenhaver. “It’s not likely that it will be possible to recruit the additional providers needed. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can play a key role in improving access to mental health care and health outcomes,” she said.

“Great Lakes is fortunate to be a part of a highly needed community partnership with NMU and SVSU to help advance the development of specialty mental health care through the psychiatric nurse practitioner education program,” said Greg Toutant, CEO of Great Lakes Recovery Centers.

“The Upper Peninsula has a significant shortage of mental health providers and this important project will help to develop added expertise and improved access for integrated avenues of care. Our role as a community preceptor site providing practicum opportunities is a small way we can help to strengthen the future workforce providing a spectrum of behavioral health care services in the U.P.,” Toutant said.

SVSU’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program offers both post-graduate certificate and doctoral degree tracks.

For more information on BRIDGE UP, contact NMU’s Poirier at ampoirie@nmu.edu or 906-227-2826, or SVSU’s Kathleen Schachman at kaschach@svsu.edu or 989-964-4339.