“Strength is not refusing help—it’s knowing when to reach for it. ”
Kristina Bailey, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner practicing in Washington County, Maine, with a clinical focus in addiction medicine and suicide prevention. I am dedicated to delivering individualized, developmentally appropriate mental health care that supports both patients and their families through every stage of treatment.
Outside of my professional work, I am a very proud parent of four children—one 11-year-old and three under the age of three—which means our house is usually loud, slightly chaotic, and running on snacks and caffeine. Much of my time outside of work is spent cheering on my oldest at sports, reading, and spending time at the lake.
At the core of everything I do, both personally and professionally, is a commitment to connection, balance, and showing up fully for the people and moments that matter most.
Education
I began my nursing education by earning my Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) through Beal University. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, further strengthening my clinical knowledge and commitment to patient-centered care.
I then earned my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner through Husson University, where I developed advanced skills in comprehensive primary care across the lifespan.
To further specialize in mental health, I completed a Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. This advanced training allows me to provide focused, evidence-based psychiatric care to individuals experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions.
September 2, 2024
There are moments in life that change you forever—moments you never see coming. September 2, 2024, was that moment for me. Losing my father to suicide shattered me in ways I can’t fully describe, but through that pain, one thing became incredibly clear: this is where I’m meant to be.
I originally became a Family Nurse Practitioner simply because I wanted to help people in an area where care was deeply needed. Mental health had always touched my life through family struggles with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, but I never imagined it would become my calling. Then I began treating mental health within my practice and realized how much I loved it. Still, I wasn’t convinced I wanted to return to school again to specialize in psychiatry.
My dad battled depression, anxiety, and substance abuse for most of my life. Like so many people struggling with mental illness, he carried a tremendous amount of shame and rarely opened up about what he was truly going through. Yet to most people, you would never know it. He usually wore a smile, cracked jokes constantly, and had a way of making people feel comfortable the second they met him. He was incredibly easy to love. In our small town, everyone loved seeing him coming—he had a personality that filled a room and a heart that people naturally gravitated toward. There truly was something special about him. But life with him often felt like a roller coaster. He would be doing so well for long stretches of time, and then suddenly spiral again. But somehow, he always seemed to find his way back, which made us hold onto hope every single time. Watching someone you love so much suffer while feeling powerless to save them is a kind of heartbreak that changes you forever.
I chose this path because I know what it feels like to love someone who believes they are beyond help. I know what it feels like to wish someone had listened longer, noticed more, or made them feel worthy enough to stay.
I want my patients to have someone who makes time for them, who sees them as human beings—not their diagnosis, not their addiction, not their worst mistakes. Someone who reminds them that perfection does not exist and that struggling does not make them weak.
No one should have to suffer alone in the darkest parts of their mind. If I can help even one person find hope, healing, or the strength to stay, then every step of this journey will be worth it.