Volunteers from the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions shared their expertise with employees at Tri-County Mental Health in its first fair organized by its Wellness Committee. Students pictured above are Amy Baker, Angela Brann, Doug Chappelle, Aaron Gould, Ashley Hamilton, Rebecca Madden, Carolyn McElfresh and Laurie Oliver.

CMMC students assist caregivers

LEWISTON – Some caregivers were on the receiving side of the equation recently when Tri-County Mental Health Services partnered with student volunteers from the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions for a Wellness Fair.

The event was called “an exploration of wellness” and it was the first in what will hopefully be a series of such event for Tri-County Mental Health Services and its 500 employees.

Eight student volunteers from the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions provided booths and offered guidance on health issues such as high blood pressure and stress in the workplace. The students included Amy Baker, Angela Brann, Doug Chappelle, Aaron Gould, Ashley Hamilton, Rebecca Madden, Carolyn McElfresh and Laurie Oliver.

“Learning about yoga and desk stretching was useful since we sit at our desks all day,” said employee Cindy Patterson of the administrative office.

Other staff attendees said they appreciated being informed about blood pressure and other health concerns.

According to Betsy Vaughan, Tri-County’s benefits specialist and Wellness Committee coordinator, the committee hopes to expand across the agency through similar wellness fairs in order to promote healthy work habits like stretching, stress management and healthy eating.

Tri-County Mental Health Services deals with the psychological and social well being of children, adults and elders, serving more than 7,000 individuals each year in Androscoggin, northern Cumberland, Franklin and Oxford counties. Visit www.tcmhs.org for more information.