Mental Health

Students holding colorful cards in a program about suicide prevention

Churches are an unlikely ally in solving the rural internet access puzzle

May 21, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith 1 Comment

Churches are an unlikely ally in solving the rural internet access puzzle - North Carolina Health News

With the coronavirus pandemic highlighting the depth of rural broadband needs, churches have set their sights on increasing access in their communities.

By Liora Engel-Smith Bridgette Diaz can’t use her cell phone without Wi-Fi. Her cellular carrier does not cover Robbinsville, the tiny mountain town where she has made her home. Diaz doesn’t have an internet connection either. Robbinsville, the Graham County seat, is situated in a four-county pocket with some of the worst broadband adoption rates […]

How addiction recovery specialists adapted during COVID-19 pandemic

May 20, 2020 by Taylor Knopf 5 Comments

How addiction recovery specialists adapted during COVID-19 pandemic - North Carolina Health News

While some addiction service providers have been forced to cut programs, others have adjusted to the pandemic changes to assist people using drugs and those in early addiction recovery.

By Taylor Knopf In his 20 years at Healing Transitions, Chris Budnick has never turned away someone seeking help. But in late March after three false-positive tests for COVID-19 at the residential addiction recovery program in Raleigh, the program director made the tough call to stop all new admissions to the campuses and overnight detox. […]

photo shows a laptop with a zoom meeting of people who are meeting remotely because of COVID

As COVID-19 menaces NC, therapists reach out to people with speech, memory problems

May 13, 2020 by Thomas Goldsmith Leave a Comment

As COVID-19 menaces NC, therapists reach out to people with speech, memory problems - North Carolina Health News

COVID-19 has brought changes in routine for people with dementia and other speech and memory problems. The community of speech therapy is offering new methods of care as the need continues to emerge.

By Thomas Goldsmith Solid communication can be tough with people challenged by the speech and comprehension problems that come with Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke and aphasia. With the addition of COVID-19 to the mix, North Carolina speech therapists, along with some patients and caregivers, are offering grounding in this new health care landscape, along with practical […]

shows three politicians who are usually at odds on the same dias, they're there in order to sign bills to provide COVID relief

Coronavirus Today – May 12 – Pandemic politics; NC manufacturers help; mental health awareness

May 12, 2020 by Editor Leave a Comment

Coronavirus Today – May 12 – Pandemic politics; NC manufacturers help; mental health awareness - North Carolina Health News

Political divides are emerging again during the pandemic slightly more than a week after Republicans and Democrats reached consensus on a relief package.

By North Carolina Health News staff ‘Pandemics cannot be partisan’ Eight days have passed since Republican leaders at the helm of the General Assembly stood side-by-side with Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, to show that the two parties could come together in consensus to support a $1.5 billion pandemic relief package. The harmony was short-lived. […]

shows a man at a podium holding up a face mask used as a COVID preventive as he speaks from behind a podium.

Coronavirus Today – May 8 – COVID faces, not statistics; drive for increased testing; Mother’s Day

May 8, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – May 8 – COVID faces, not statistics; drive for increased testing; Mother’s Day - North Carolina Health News

As social distancing restrictions ease, Gov. Roy Cooper urges North Carolinians to remember families and communities mourning lost loved ones.

By North Carolina Health News staff More than a pandemic number Gov. Roy Cooper reminded North Carolinians that there are faces, families, loved ones and mourning communities that tell the stories of this pandemic. As the state eases social distancing restrictions to allow for more retail activity and state park visits, Cooper portrayed some of […]

How do you cope with COVID? NC Health News team shares their strategies

May 8, 2020 by Editor

How do you cope with COVID? NC Health News team shares their strategies - North Carolina Health News

At NC Health News, our workload suddenly exploded. Like others, we’ve had to find ways to cope, even as we’re busier than ever.

By NC Health News staff At North Carolina Health News, we are not immune from the stress and anxiety caused by this pandemic. We are covering incredibly sad issues on a daily basis. And it can be difficult to hit the “off” switch as home life and work life bleed together. Some of our staff […]

a montage of all the stressors and things to remember as people attempt to cope with covid-19

Managing mental health during COVID-19

May 8, 2020 by Taylor Knopf

Managing mental health during COVID-19 - North Carolina Health News

Healthy coping skills, mental health resources can ease the pain of physical distance during the pandemic.

By Taylor Knopf North Carolinians will be living in a state of uncertainty a little longer. This week, Gov. Roy Cooper announced a modified “stay home” order that extends to May 22 which looks very similar to the original order with a few exceptions. It’s clear that our lives will not return to normal anytime […]

Sec. Mandy Cohen stands at a podium. Mike Sprayberry is in the background and he's blurry. They're talking at a coronavirus briefing.

Coronavirus Today – April 16 – Virtual health visits, a ‘reverse parade’, meat and toilet paper fly off the shelves

April 16, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – April 16 – Virtual health visits, a ‘reverse parade’, meat and toilet paper fly off the shelves - North Carolina Health News

NCDHHS aired a three-minute video to help people understand how they can access care while staying home. Meanwhile, NCDHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen advocated for using emergency funding to help Medicaid providers.

By North Carolina Health News staff Your doctor can see you virtually During the coronavirus pandemic, more health care workers have been consulting with patients online, offering diagnoses, suggesting at home treatments, and even taking some through physical therapy sessions using computers, phones, iPads and more. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health […]

A mural reading 'hope' and 'patience' in a gym at Emerald School of Excellence, the state's first recovery high school

During the coronavirus pandemic, recovery support moves online

April 15, 2020 by Taylor Knopf

During the coronavirus pandemic, recovery support moves online - North Carolina Health News

There are several free resources during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who are used to attending regular meetings to support their mental health or substance use recovery.

By Taylor Knopf As 9 p.m. approaches, a Zoom meeting screen fills with several grids of 168 faces, all ages and races represented. A middle-aged African-American woman sits at a desk and pulls out a notebook and pen. A young white woman rolls out dough on her kitchen counter. An older white man sits still […]

Gov. Cooper walks past Mandy Cohen at a coronavirus briefing

Coronavirus Today – April 9 – Grocery store executive order, lawmakers start to write relief bills, speeding up unemployment relief

April 9, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – April 9 – Grocery store executive order, lawmakers start to write relief bills, speeding up unemployment relief - North Carolina Health News

Gov. Cooper’s latest executive order attempts to help bring relief to the hundreds of thousands of claims for unemployment benefits that have come in during March and April.

By North Carolina Health News staff Gov. Roy Cooper issued his much-heralded executive order that will limit how many people will be allowed in grocery and retail stores beginning Monday and add more stringent contagion controls for nursing homes, as news arose of a COVID-19 outbreak in Rutherford County and other areas in the state. […]

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