Wingspan, Spring 2025
According to a 2024 report from the Maryland Health Care Commission, Maryland will need more than 32,000 behavioral health professionals by 2028. You may picture a behavioral health professional as a psychologist seeing patients in an office, but a meaningful career that supports mental health doesn’t have to require a doctorate or years of additional (and expensive) education. Students at AACC are finding ways to support mental health across disciplines, sometimes in fields that may surprise you.
AACC's Psychology program is one of the college’s most popular, reflecting a growing awareness of and interest in mental health. Julie Grignon, chair of the Psychology department, says students want to understand more about themselves in a diverse society. They also want to make a positive impact in their community.
Psychology courses equip students with skills to help address mental health challenges. They learn psychological principles to improve their lives and the lives of others. Even students who don’t plan to pursue a degree in psychology can benefit from the program’s courses by learning skills that can be used across various careers.
The department contributes to initiatives to improve mental health on campus and in the community. Collaborating with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it has hosted Mental Health First Aid Training and participated in suicide awareness walks. Guest speakers from psychology and mental health fields, along with partnerships with local organizations, inspire students by showcasing career paths and highlighting internships and community volunteering opportunities.
This is one section of a larger feature story about how students at AACC are finding ways to support mental health. Read the full story.
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