N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon is hosting the third in a series of forums on mental health and substance use on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in Butner.
The community is invited at attend the gathering, which will be held at First Baptist Church in Butner from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to information from GVPH Director Lisa Harrison.
“We hope that all those in the community who personally experience or have a loved one who experiences mental illness or substance abuse can attend,” Harrison said.
GVPH and other organizations in the area will be present to discuss services available to those in need of help.
A 2021 Community Assessment conducted by the health department showed that more than 40 percent of Vance County residents and 36 percent of Granville County residents have a friend or family members affected by the use of painkillers, opioids or heroin.
Mental illness is especially prevalent among youth. In North Carolina, 1 in 5 adolescents have seriously considered attempting suicide, and 1 in 10 have made a suicide attempt. Unfortunately, rates of both mental illness and substance misuse continue to climb in our community, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrison noted.
Expert panels will address Youth Mental Health as well as Substance Use and Addiction. Topics will include suicide prevention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, crisis events, anxiety management, substance use disorder and recovery, depression treatment, addiction recovery, and primary care services. Service providers will have booths for participants to learn more about
treatment resources and critical access points for treatment. Booths will include providers that specialize in medications for Opioid Use Disorder (e.g., Buprenorphine, Methadone), individual and family counseling, medication management, crisis management, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment.