Division of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

A pregnant woman with a mask sits in her room.

Disrupting the cycle of addiction, one mother at a time

October 26, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

Disrupting the cycle of addiction, one mother at a time - North Carolina Health News

A Robeson County program for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants helps mothers grow their recovery skills while growing a life.

By Liora Engel-Smith Baby Tyler uttered his first word the other day, and much to Kerry T.’s surprise, that word was “dada.” “I’m the one taking care of you, not your daddy,” Kerry, 21, who did not want her full name used to protect her privacy, chided the six-month-old. Tyler grinned at his mom, flapping […]

Kevin Mahoney is a peer support specialist at MAHEC

Free phones, masks in parks: Rural providers get creative with mental health outreach post-COVID

August 7, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

Free phones, masks in parks: Rural providers get creative with mental health outreach post-COVID - North Carolina Health News

The pandemic has isolated rural residents with mental health needs. But these North Carolina providers are finding creative ways to connect.

By Liora Engel-Smith When coronavirus transformed North Carolina’s telehealth billing in early spring, Kevin Mahoney began checking in with most of his 200 clients via video and phone. But the Asheville-based peer support specialist soon discovered that telehealth left some of his clients behind. Mahoney, who works at the Mountain Area Health Education Center, supports […]

A county by county map of US colored to show opioid death risk, including access to medication-assisted treatment

Forty-one N.C. counties classified as “high risk” in new opioid study

July 23, 2019 by Yen Duong

Forty-one N.C. counties classified as “high risk” in new opioid study - North Carolina Health News

In a national study, researchers classified 41 North Carolina counties as “opioid high-risk” with few providers of medication-assisted treatment and many opioid-related deaths.

By Yen Duong While conversations about the national opioid epidemic often focus on hardest-hit states such as Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, few people have analyzed county-by-county trends, where those state’s policies can make a difference. But a new study, published last month in an open-access version of the Journal of the American Medical Association, […]

a man at a podium tries to avoid talking about Medicaid expansion

NC health department would face ‘dramatic’ cuts under proposed budget

June 28, 2019 by Taylor Knopf

NC health department would face ‘dramatic’ cuts under proposed budget - North Carolina Health News

Sec. Mandy Cohen spent big portions of her week walking the halls of the legislature, to push back against cuts to DHHS.

By Taylor Knopf and Rose Hoban As the state budget moves toward what looks to be an inevitable veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, state health leaders are raising alarm about some of the budget provisions drafted by Republican state lawmakers. Health and Human Services Sec. Mandy Cohen argues that some of the deep cuts could […]

2019 Health & Human Services Budget – House & Senate

June 24, 2019 by Rose Hoban

2019 Health & Human Services Budget – House & Senate - North Carolina Health News

Just in time for the conference committee budget, here are how the Senate and the House of Representatives each proposed to spend on health and human services.

By Rose Hoban After 2018’s unusual budget process this year’s budget has unfolded in a more “traditional” way. The House unveiled it’s proposal to spend $5.569 billion on health and human services priorities in early May. The Senate finished it’s work on the budget in early June, asking for a total appropriation of $5.552 billion […]

talking to a psychiatrist over the web while in the emergency department, telehealth

STePs Toward Shortening ED Wait Times for Mental Health Patients

July 20, 2017 by Taylor Knopf

STePs Toward Shortening ED Wait Times for Mental Health Patients - North Carolina Health News

North Carolina's telepsychiatry program is starting to make a dent on how long people in mental health crisis spend in the emergency room.

By Taylor Knopf About 40 percent of North Carolinians live in one of the state’s 80 rural counties, many of which lack ready access to health care. But in recent years, more and more North Carolinians are receiving care with telemedicine. However, there remain a lot of gaps in state policy when it comes to […]

Panorama of the new Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro.

Bill Would Make Mental Health Agencies Create Local Crisis Plans

April 28, 2017 by Taylor Knopf

Bill Would Make Mental Health Agencies Create Local Crisis Plans - North Carolina Health News

A bill in the works at the legislature makes a series of changes and tweaks throughout the mental health system.

By Taylor Knopf It’s no secret that North Carolina’s mental health system leaves a lot to be desired, and one of the biggest holes in the safety net is a dearth of crisis services. That’s why state lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would direct all seven state-funded mental health management organizations to […]

shows five peopel sitting at a long table on a dias, one is speaking.

Lawmakers Agree on Need for Child Services

January 31, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Lawmakers Agree on Need for Child Services - North Carolina Health News

At the 39th annual mental health legislative breakfast, lawmakers found points of agreement.

By Rose Hoban Legislators from both sides of the aisle found points of agreement on health care issues Saturday as they discussed Medicaid, child services and mental health care, and the need for better community psychiatric services in North Carolina. A capacity crowd of 400 filled UNC-Chapel Hill’s Friday Center for the 39th annual Legislative […]

Lawmakers Get Sobering Mental Health Update

December 6, 2016 by Rose Hoban

Lawmakers Get Sobering Mental Health Update - North Carolina Health News

Reports from around the state show success in some mental health programs but there are still many barriers to getting people the services they need. By Rose Hoban A 50-year-old man sits continuously in an emergency department for 80 days after attempting suicide. A 4-year-old child with psychiatric problems is left in a different emergency […]

New Cherry Hospital Makes Its Debut, Three Years Late

August 31, 2016 by Rose Hoban

New Cherry Hospital Makes Its Debut, Three Years Late - North Carolina Health News

The state’s newest psychiatric facility was plagued by delays. Now that it’s open, will there be fewer people in the state's emergency departments?

By Rose Hoban Three years after it was originally slated to open, Goldsboro’s new Cherry Hospital was officially dedicated Tuesday by Gov. Pat McCrory At an outdoor ceremony attended by hundreds of present and former staff, state and local officials, and legislators, McCrory glossed over the delays that kept the $138 million facility from opening […]

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