Governor announces $12.2 million for Florence mental health counseling

Residents in 28 counties will have access to counseling and other services.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced Friday the state would grant $12.2 million in grant funding to expand crisis counseling services to Hurricane Florence victims across 28 counties.

The grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide support to counties including Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The $12.2 million grant is a continuation of an initial $3.5 million that went to fund the Hope 4 NC program — a program created to aid Hurricane Matthew with their behavioral health needs. Local licensed clinicians and professional counselors are employed by the program and connected directly with hurricane victims. Counselors are instructed to go door-to-door providing counseling and connecting adults and children with existing services such as long-term counseling, houseing support and more.

Since Florence hit, the release states Hope 4 NC has already connected with 90,000 people across the affected region with the support of nearly 200 counselors. More than 10,000 residents have received more involved risk assessments, half of which were referred to more intensive mental health services.

Those in need of assistance can call the Hope 4 NC Crisis Counseling Services Hotline at 1-855-587-3463 (FIND). Operators are available 24/7, to link survivors with crisis counseling staff who can visit in person or facilitate access to more intensive services as needed in their communities. For additional information about behavioral health after a hurricane, please visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/hurricane-florence/behavioral-health-after-hurricane-florence.

For information about other resources available for those impacted by Hurricane Florence, please visit https://www.rebuild.nc.gov/.