Jesse M. Higgins, PMHNP
Jesse Higgins is the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine. An Acadia provider since 2010, Jesse has practiced consultative psychiatry in a family medicine practice at Eastern Maine Medical Center since 2011. She developed and directs an integrated program that leverages licensed clinical social workers and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners on-site and via telehealth in outpatient medical practices throughout the state of Maine. The mission of this program is to improve access to behavioral health expertise for outpatient medical practice patients, families, providers, and staff.
Jesse is a clinical leader and national speaker on topics that include integrated behavioral health, shared decision making, and strengthening medical practices as a trauma-informed access point for patients presenting with mental illness and substance use disorders. She continues to pursue excellence in integrated care as an active member of several hospital and community committees, in which she advocates for policies that embody and promote compassionate, collaborative, whole patient care.
Jesse is passionate about increasing safety, self-efficacy, and personal empowerment for all community members and is proud to co-chair the Bangor Area Clinical Substance Use Workgroup, a clinical consortium that takes a collective public health approach to caring for patients and families impacted by substance use disorders; and serve on the Board of Trustees at Partners for Peace, the domestic violence resource center for Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.
Jesse holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree and a graduate certificate in Health Policy and Management from the University of Southern Maine and earned a post-graduate certificate in Primary Care and Integrated Behavioral Health from U Mass Medical School.
In her spare time, Jesse enjoys exploring and adventuring in the beautiful state of Maine and beyond.