WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Coastal Horizons, a substance abuse and mental health treatment center in Wilmington, is seeing approximately 700 people per day, according to its chief operating officer, as the state releases its first-year progress report on a five-year plan to overhaul mental health care statewide.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said it is working to meet growing demand. Secretary Dev Sangvai said the state has reached a turning point.
“North Carolina now is willing to say we have a problem for lack of better term and we want to do something about it,” Sangvai said.
The General Assembly appropriated nearly $1 billion for behavioral health in 2024.
In year one of the five-year strategic plan, the state opened seven new urgent care centers, launched mobile opioid treatment programs, and expanded access to care.
“Our goal is really to make sure if someone has a behavioral health need — there are things we focus on — we want someone to have someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help,” Sangvai said.
Coastal Horizons received nearly $1 million, which went toward expanding infant mental health services and growing its opioid treatment program to serve nearly 1,000 people in the tri-county area.
“We’re really building out a robust infrastructure in this area and across the state to serve people’s needs,” said Ryan Estes, chief operating officer at Coastal Horizons.
Wilmington still lacks a 24-hour behavioral health urgent care center, and staffing community health positions remains an ongoing challenge.
Ninety-seven out of 100 counties in North Carolina are considered a mental health professional shortage area — including counties in southeastern North Carolina — meaning limited providers and, in some cases, long distances to access care.
“I know that there are more people that need care than our system could handle years ago — and frankly can probably still handle today — and we’re trying to rise and meet that need,” Estes said.
The state said it is working to address both issues while continuing to measure program outcomes.
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