Dr. Rei Serafica, Associate Professor and PMHNP Program Director, and Dr. Hyunhwa "Henna" Lee, Associate Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research, were awarded a $2.3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (BHWET). The four-year award will support Bridge to Behavioral Health (BBH), an initiative to expand training for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners to meet the needs of at-risk youth and families in underserved Nevada communities.

“The BBH initiative was inspired by both data and lived experience,” said Serafica. “As nurse researchers and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners working in Nevada, we have seen firsthand the growing mental health crisis among youth and families, especially in rural and underserved communities. Our research and clinical engagement revealed urgent workforce gaps, particularly in behavioral health services for adolescents experiencing trauma, suicidality, and substance use disorders.”

According to The Trevor Project, about 72% of LGBTIQA+ youth in Nevada who desired mental health care were unable to access it.

Over the course of four years, BBH will train 64 culturally competent nurse practitioners through trauma-informed, telehealth-integrated education. The program will build rural partnerships, offer student stipends, and promote interprofessional collaboration. UNLV Nursing students will receive training and experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. This initiative equips students with the tools and mentorship to serve high-need populations, and it positions them for long-term career growth in areas like school-based mental health, integrated care, and publich health leadership.

The program has a focus on youth suicide prevention, substance use disorder treatment, and emerging therapies, BBH aims to improve access, equity, and sustainability in Nevada’s behavioral health workforce.

“For Nevada’s underserved communities, BBH can be a lifeline. These areas face a critical shortage of mental health providers, especially those trained to serve youth and families impacted by trauma, addiction, and socioeconomic stressors,” Serafice said. “By expanding access to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care through PMHNPs trained via BBH, this work is not just filling the workforce gap but we are building trust and improving outcomes.”