North Carolina receives $7M in grants for mental health and 988 services

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has been awarded nearly $7 million in grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand mental health and crisis services.

The funding includes $5.2 million to strengthen the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, specifically targeting high-risk populations for suicide and overdose. Additionally, $750,000 will support Mobile Crisis Teams in Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton counties, while $1.08 million is designated for substance use disorder and maternal mental health services for pregnant and postpartum women.

NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai noted that the 988 Lifeline is a critical resource, citing studies where a high percentage of callers credited the service with saving their lives. The department aims to use the funds to increase capacity and improve referral pathways between 911 and mobile crisis services.