North Carolina Gets $7M for Mental Health Treatment Services

North Carolina’s mental health treatment infrastructure is getting $7 million in federal investment. To be clear, North Carolina already has a robust system of inpatient and outpatient programs to help folks with mental health and drug-related conditions. But many people still remain at risk.

Thus, three grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will strengthen the state’s behavioral health system. One supports the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Another connects 911 calls with the appropriate mobile crisis unit.

The third funds treatment for pregnant and postpartum women experiencing substance use issues. More than $1 million will go to maternal mental health services for pregnant women, mothers and their families.

988 & Crisis Response

North Carolina’s 988 line is the first to get an upgrade.

“The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a critical resource for someone experiencing a mental health crisis,” noted NCDHHS officials. They pointed out that 88% of people who expressed suicidal thoughts credited 988 with saving their life.

The lifeline operates 24/7 via phone, text and chat and is staffed with trained crisis counselors. Demand for suicide and overdose hotlines has grown, fueled partly by a dearth in mental health providers. State officials want to use funds to expand crisis technology to more people across North Carolina.

Mental Health & Addictions Connected

The grants recognize that health conditions rarely take place in isolation. Someone experiencing depression or anxiety may drink or do drugs to cope and substance use worsens underlying psychiatric symptoms. 

Pregnancy adds urgency because untreated substance use during pregnancy affects both mother and child. Additional stigmas keep many women from seeking care. The maternal health funding addresses that gap directly.

Treating Dual Diagnoses

Co-occurring disorders mean that a person has mental health and substance use disorders at the same time. Integrated dual diagnosis treatment addresses multiple conditions together rather than one at a time. Medication management, behavioral therapy and peer support are common approaches to improve patient outcomes.

Effective dual diagnosis programs combine several elements: psychiatric evals and medication management, individual and group therapy and coordinated substance use treatment. Residential programs offer 24-hour structure for people who need it, while outpatient care lets people continue working and living at home during treatment. 

The right level of care depends on symptom severity, safety and the strength of support at home.

Mental Health Treatment in North Carolina & Beyond

Residents in North Carolina with mental health conditions and/or addictions can take heart that expansion means more crisis options and better-coordinated care.

People outside The Tar Heel State also have plenty of options. Our treatment directory lets you compare mental health treatment programs across the nation by level of care and location. 

Feel free to also call 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) to find mental health and addiction treatment with expert guidance.

Author

Nikki Wisher, BA

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Nikki Wisher is an Atlanta-based content writer who specializes in health and wellness. After earning her BA in English, she has been writing in the health and wellness space for over a decade, with credits ranging from addiction recovery to fitness to aesthetics and skin care. This includes her inclusive running blog forallrunners.com.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time