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leaders, to announce a $3.2 million United Health Foundation grant. (Photo courtesy of Cliff Hollis)
Young people today are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis.
With help from a $3.2 million partnership between East Carolina University (ECU) and the United Health Foundation, the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) will expand to improve access to urgently needed behavioral health services.
The expansion will provide mental health care services to underserved children and adolescents in six community-based pediatric and primary care clinics in rural parts of the state. The program aims to reach patients in clinics where they are already established to reduce the stigma associated with mental health care and make it more accessible.
“In North Carolina, children experience significant challenges accessing the care needed to address their mental health. More than 70% of children in North Carolina with a mental health disorder do not receive treatment, and 92 out of 100 counties in the state are designated as mental health professional shortage areas,” said Dr. Sy Saeed, director of the ECU Center for Telepsychiatry and founding executive director of NC-STeP.
NC-STeP, housed within the ECU Center for Telepsychiatry and e-Behavioral Health, was established in 2013 to improve patient outcomes, address the provider shortage, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. Since then, the program has completed more than 56,000 psychiatry assessments in hospital emergency departments and has served more than 14,000 patients in its 23 community primary care settings.
Last year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) awarded the program $1.54 million to provide telepsychiatry services over five years for students at Elizabeth City State University.
“Mental health — including psychological, emotional and social well-being — is a vital part of our overall health,” said Saeed.
Monumental partnerships like these provide mental health support to help North Carolinians live happier, healthier lives.
Learn more about ECU’s partnerships with the United Health Foundation and BCBSNC.
