Brandy Mechling

Dr. Brandy Mechling PhD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FNAP is a full professor in the School of Nursing at University of North Carolina (UNC) Wilmington. She began in the SON in 2006 and has taught across programs (Pre-licensure, RN to BSN, MSN, and BSN to DNP) and served as the coordinator/chair of the Pre-licensure Program from 2017 to 2020. She earned her PhD in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2013. Her main area of nursing expertise (25+ years) is psychiatric-mental health that covers a wide spectrum of both acute and outpatient child-adolescent and adult populations; including working with individuals of all ages who have mental illnesses and substance use disorders (SUDs) and their families. She is a certified clinical nurse specialist with expertise in conducting psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her program of research includes adolescent and young adult psychosocial well-being and risk-taking behaviors, parental mental illness and SUDs and the impact on psychosocial well-being of their children, and community interventions for improving the physical and psychosocial wellness of individuals affected by mental illness and SUD. Within the past year, she has joined a research team focused on suicide prevention in schools and the school nurse’s role in screening and caring for children who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or suicidality. She has been actively involved in the American Psychiatric Nurse's Association (since 2008) and was inducted as a fellow in the American Academies of Practice in 2024.

Education

Ph.D. in Nursing, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

M.S.N. in Nursing, Hampton University

B.S.N. in Nursing, Psychology minor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Specialization in Teaching

Undergraduate Nursing
Graduate Nursing (MSN-Nures Educator, BSN to DNP- PMHNP concentration)
Quality Matters, certified reviewer, January 2022 to present

Research Interests

Child, adolescent, and young adult psychosocial well-being and risk-taking behaviors
Parental mental illness and SUDs and the impact on psychosocial well-being of their children
Community interventions for improving the physical and psychosocial wellness of individuals affected by mental illness and SUD
Suicide prevention in schools
School nurse’s role in screening and caring for children with depression, anxiety, and/or suicidality

Professional Service

Editorial Board, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing
Editorial Board, Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
Member, American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Research Council Chair, 2019 – 2023
Research Council Member
Member, Sigma Theta Tau, Nu Omega Chapter
Member, Southern Nursing Research Society
Member, American Nurses Association
Member, North Carolina Nurses Association

Community Engagement

Member of the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force, Wilmington, NC
Previous Member of the New Hanover County, NC Child Welfare Stakeholder Group and Community Relations and Communications Sub-committee

Honors & Awards

National Academies of Practice, Nursing Academy Fellow, peer nominated/inducted March 2024

UNCW Center for Teaching Excellence Discere Aude Award, student nominated, 2015.

The YWCA 30th Lower Cape Fear Annual Women of Achievement Nominee, nominated by mental health community partners, 2015.

UNCW Center for Teaching Excellence Discere Aude Award, student nominated, 2011.

UNCW Center for Teaching Excellence Lecturer of the Year Award, administrative/faculty nominated, 2011.

Sigma Theta Tau, inducted 1997