WVU Parkersburg recognized at National Mental Health First Aid Summit for Leadership in Youth Mental Health Training

Parkersburg, W.Va. (June 1, 2026) — WVU Parkersburg was recognized on a national stage at the 2026 Mental Health First Aid Summit in Denver, Colorado, earning an Honorable Mention during the Impact Awards ceremony for its work in advancing youth mental health education and trauma-informed practices.

Held as part of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s NatCon26 conference, the summit brough together thousands of educators, mental health professionals, and community leaders from across the country to discuss mental health, community partnerships, and support for rural communities.

Megan McKnight, Ed.D., Director of Teacher Education at WVU Parkersburg, attended the summit on behalf of the institution and said the experience reinforced the importance of preparing educators to respond to student mental health needs through early intervention and community-based support.

“It was an incredible experience and something worth highlighting,” said McKnight. “A consistent message throughout the summit was the importance of early intervention, community-based support and preparing professionals, especially educators, to respond confidently when mental health concerns arise.”

The honorable mention recognition reflects years of work at WVU Parkersburg to build meaningful mental health support systems for future educators and the broader community.

The initiative began through a statewide Grow Your Own (GYO) program requirement for students to complete coursework focused on social and emotional supports. In response, WVU Parkersburg developed a Social and Emotional Supports course in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders, later expanding those efforts into a trauma-informed practices course.

With the help of Dean Bobbi Marshall and McKnight, the university secured support to certify more than a dozen faculty and staff members in Youth Mental Health First Aid, a national training program designed to help adults recognize and respond to signs of mental health challenges in young people.

Since then, WVU Parkersburg has trained multiple education cohorts and staff members from the West Virginia Department of Education, while expanding the work into other academic programs, including Criminal Justice and Nursing.

McKnight said one of the summit’s keynote speakers, Soul Cole, challenged attendees to reflect on their purpose and motivation in this work.

“We are not asking educators to diagnose, but to recognize and respond,” McKnight said. “Through Youth Mental Health First Aid, we use the ALGEE (assessing risk, listening without judgement, offering reassurance, encouraging professional help and supporting self-care) approach, so educators feel prepared to act while staying within their role.”

McKnight said the summit also highlighted the importance of mental health work in rural and Appalachian communities, where educators often serve as frontline support for students facing challenges.

“This work matters deeply in Appalachia,” McKnight said. “Taking a lead here means recognizing the realities our students and communities face and responding in ways that are practical, compassionate and sustainable. I’m grateful to Dean Bobbi Marshall for endorsing this work across our division, to our administration for investing in Mental Health First Aid, and to our colleagues, because this is not work one person can do alone. I was proud to represent not only WVU Parkersburg, but our state and the Appalachian region.”

The recognition at the national summit reflects WVU Parkersburg’s continued commitment to preparing educators and professionals to support student wellbeing and strengthen communities across the region.