- submitted photo (left to right) Otto Wahl, PhD, University of Hartford; Edna Mullally, New Fairfield High School; Godfrey Pearlson, MD, Director of the Olin Research Center, Institute of Living and Nancy Hubbard, Director of Outpatient and Rehabilitative Services, Institute of Living.
A New Fairfield High School teacher was recently honored for her work with increasing awareness among students about mental health.
Edna Mullally, was recognized on April 23 by Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living at the group’s 12th annual awards event for encouraging her class to participate in BrainDance, a competition sponsored by the institute. All of her students submitted proposals. BrianDance increases awareness and tolerance among high school students across Connecticut for people with psychiatric diseases. It also promotes possible mental health care careers students can pursue down the road.
“I think that (BrainDance) is a wonderful opportunity for the kids to learn about mental health and mental illness,” Mullally said in a news release from the institute. “It’s very exciting.”
Mullally worked in health care for 19 years as a registered nurse, starting with a psychiatric unit at a hospital. She is now an anatomy and physiology at the high school.
“This was the school’s first year with BrainDance, and we were impressed with the level of enthusiasm of both Edna and her students,” Nancy Hubbard, the institute’s director of outpatient and rehabilitative services, said in the release.