Raleigh — October 24, 2024: NCDHHS Press Release: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced $2.9 million in federal funding to help increase crisis counseling services for people impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The funding is part of the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program administered by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is available to states to address behavioral health care needs and support relief for people in disaster-impacted communities.
The funding will be used to expand the Hope4NC initiative to recruit, hire and train crisis counselors, behavioral health therapists and certified peer support specialists in the 25 counties declared major disaster areas following Hurricane Helene. Approximately 1.8 million people live in these areas and were impacted by the storm that brought catastrophic damage on Sept. 26, 2024, and in the days following. Currently, first responders and volunteers experiencing stress or mental health crisis can call the Hope4NC Helpline at 1-855-587-3463 24/7. The additional funding will expand the crisis response workforce to increase access to more people who are impacted by Hurricane Helene…