North Carolina Mental Health Resources
Mental Health in North Carolina
North Carolina ranks 32 out of the 50 states when it comes to its population’s mental health. This lower tier level is reflected in statistics that show 85% of adults in the state faced mental health challenges in 2024, with nearly 30% reporting that their conditions worsened throughout the year. In addition, over a third of the state’s children have experienced depression.
Legislators and the public have attempted to address this concern. According to a survey from Thrive Works, over half of adult Carolinans have claimed that they planned to see a therapist each year, but those who don’t cite financial burdens and familial stressors that have made recovery difficult.
Indeed, despite the need for psychiatric care, the annual report from North Carolina’s psychiatric hospitals show decreasing patient care from 2013 to 2022, and have instead turned to family or friends for support. While assistance from loved ones is beneficial, a snapshot of the state’s mental health system indicates a need for greater improvement to make care accessible.
85%
North Carolina residents struggling with mental health issues
1 in 3
Children in North Carolina have experienced depression
32nd
North Carolina ranks #32 in mental health care
Free Mental Health Resources in North Carolina
NAMI North Carolina is a local chapter of the national support organization for families, individuals and anyone who has been affected by mental illness. Local meetings provide a peer support system. Educational resources increase public awareness about mental health and services. NAMI provides a warmline for non crisis support and resource information for anyone needing someone to talk to. Emergency crisis service lines are also provided on the web site.
GreenTree Peer Center is a nonprofit organization that provides supportive services to those with mental health challenges. Their goal is to help people develop resilience and recovery through self-management. Green Tree's free services promote promote empowerment, healting, kindness, hope, respect and inclusion through a warnline number, day programming, and education on additional local resources. They also participate in harm reduction by providing Narcan.
Provide Services for
Substance Abuse
The PFLAG chapter in Alamance supports LBGQT+ individuals and their families through a peer support program. The mission of the organization is to provide support to individuals who are discovering their sexual orientation and help their families understand and be accepting. Peers are willing to meet with families individually upon request. Their goal is to educate the public and provide advocacy to end discrimination through their monthly newsletter, blog, and a group peer support meeting.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
Seniors
Disability
The LGBTQ Center of Durham is a multifacited support program for all ages in the LGBTQ+ community. The Youth Center is a drop in program focusing on on 12 to 24 year olds. There is an Adult Survivor Network for emotional support that assists in connecting to community resources and therapists. The Friends Aging Quirkily focuses on 50+. The activist program PRIDE, advocates at the political level for rights and acceptance. They have recently started a library for education and research addressing specific topics to the LBGQT+ community.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
Disability
Depression
ADHD
PTSD
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
NAMI of Wilmington has created a free Seniors Mental Health Talk Group run by peers, for seniors to discuss issues specific to their age group. The group is 90 minutes and meets weekly, bi weekly or monthly depending on locations. Everything that happens in the non-judgmental group is confidential. The group's goals are to help people develop coping skills, find strength in shared experiences, embrace humor and forgiveness of self, and understand that mental health is not anyone's fault.
Provide Services for
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Disability
Promise Resource Network provides Charlotte with free, confidential, peer support services for those who have experienced mental health issues. The non-profit is led by survivors of mental illness and substance use to support the healing, wellness and recovery of their peers. Services provided include education, employment assistance, housing support, case management, assistance with the criminal justice system, social justice, political advocacy, and technical training consultation. A warmline is also available 24/7.
NCDHHS provides 24/7 crisis line through the 988 suicide prevention or 911 asking for a crisis intervention team officer. The NC Peer warmline is also available for non-life threatening support for those struggling with mental health challenges. If requested, a mobile crisis team will meet you in a safe place, or you can be referred to a community crisis center for support. Additional resources are also available.
The Sunrise Community Center has many peer driven programs that support those living mental health and substance use challenges. They focus on educating Certified Peer Support Specialists who can provide a medication assisted treatment program for individuals released from the local detention center along with a harm reduction program that provides Narcan. There is also transitional housing support, problem gambling and other peer support meetings. There is also a program for assistance with employment. The drop in center has daily activities and hosts support meetings. A Respite House provides non-emergency mental health supportive housing. There are many other programs that assist in helping people in recovery sustain long term self-management.
SeekHealing is a unique organization focusing on the social health needs that occurs after recovery from substance use disorder and/or mental health challenges. One of the first of its kind, the social health network is focused on empowering people to sustain long term healing through peer support programming. Through sponsoring free social events that are substance free, providing free education on communication and building healthy relationships, a warmline for emotional support, and a community aftercare program, members can learn new life skills of connectivity to combat the loneliness that can lead to relapse.
The North Carolina Employee Assistance Program partners with McLaughlin Young to provide mental health support for employees and family members working for the State. The free program is confidential and provides 24 hour emergency coverage, referrals for assistance to other sources, and can be used for work related or personal mental health concerns. The EAP has licensed counselors who work with employees for resolution or can refer to additional resources.
Provide Services for
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Disability
First Responders
The U.S. Dept of Veteran Affairs has a toll free crisis line available where Veterans struggling with mental health concerns can receive support. There is also a call center for Veterans or family members who need support. The National Guard also has a Behavioral Health Crisis Line that can be reached for support. There is a call center for Veterans and family members facing homelessness and can receive support through the HUD housing program. Employment centers are scattered throughout North Carolina and can provide education and employment services to military members and families.
Provide Services for
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Disability
First Responders
Depression
ADHD
PTSD
Anxiety
Grief
Substance Abuse
Sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Heels Care Network is designed to help the Tar Heel student community find comprehensive mental health resources. Information regarding all things related to well-being including events, news, and peer support chat is available through association with the JED Foundation, a nationally recognized resource center providing access to experts. The Heels Care Network acts as a collaborative launching point in discovering all services related to mental health needs.
ProCure Therapeutic Agency, Inc. provides free therapeutic services to families, groups, individuals, couples and children in Mecklenburg County. Licensed therapists provide no-cost services to the uninsured and underinsured. Some of the programs available are intensive in-home counseling for at risk children, substance abuse outpatient and intensive programs, and meditation mindfulness groups. All services are provided on an outpatient basis.
Guilford County Behavioral Health Center provides all encompasing mental health services for those with mental health challenges. Services are also specificied to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals seeking recovery from substances have outpatient and residential treatment options. Age specific programs are also available for seniors and children. Access to a peer warmline as well as the 24/7 988 Suicide prevention line is also available.
Centerstone is a non profit health care system focused on mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The system works through several states throughout the Southeast corner of the country by collaborating with multiple clinics, hospitals and residential facilities. With a plethora of programs for all ages, there is also specialized programs for veterans and active military. A team of researchers working in the Centerstone Institute bring new treatments to the forefront of health care while The Centerstone Foundation works to support the system through philanthropic support.
Provide Services for
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Disability
Depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Grief
Substance Abuse