Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai visited the East Carolina University Health Behavioral Health Hospital on April 2 to highlight the importance of behavioral health services in the state. The hospital, a partnership between ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare, offers inpatient and intensive outpatient psychiatric care for adults and seniors, with plans to expand services to children and adolescents.
The visit comes as North Carolina continues efforts to improve access to mental health care across all regions. The Office of the Governor of North Carolina serves the entire state, according to the official website. Accessing quality behavioral health care is considered vital for overall community safety and well-being.
“ECU Health’s behavioral health hospital is helping the state pursue two crucial goals: connecting more people to mental health care and bringing people’s care closer to home,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As the General Assembly returns to session later this month, I look forward to working with them to invest in people’s health care, including their mental health, and appropriately value the workforce that keeps North Carolinians healthy and safe.”
Sangvai said, “Ensuring North Carolinians have access to quality mental health care when and where they need it is essential to support whole-person health and well-being. NCDHHS is committed to expanding and improving access to behavioral health care across the state through investments in facilities like ECU Health’s Behavioral Health Hospital.”
Tyler Davis, CEO of ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital, said that being “the only dedicated inpatient behavioral health facility within 75 miles,” their teams are committed “to improving lives…by illuminating paths to healing for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.” Davis also said investing in rural eastern North Carolina helps address barriers so patients can receive local treatment.
Stein has proposed a $1.4 billion Critical Needs Budget which would allocate $319 million for Medicaid funding related primarily to mental health services. The proposal includes a 10% raise for nurses and behavioral technicians at state-run facilities. Last month he announced $1.5 million for Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion programs aimed at reducing repeat crime by connecting those experiencing addiction with support services.
In February, Stein signed an executive order designed “to strengthen North Carolina’s behavioral health and criminal justice systems.” This order aims at better coordination among several key departments responsible for public safety and healthcare delivery.
The Office of the Governor of North Carolina executes state laws as chief executive officer while leading policy direction through budget management according to its official website. Josh Stein currently serves as its 76th governor according to official sources.
