Whether directly or indirectly, millions of people in North Carolina have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Natural disasters are traumatic for individuals, families and communities, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. After a hurricane, it’s even more important to get mental health support if you believe you or a loved one may need help, and to stay in contact with family and friends as soon as your access to communications is restored.
"You are not alone, there is always someone to call and someone to respond if you need help with your mental or behavioral health," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic damage that will be felt immediately and for weeks, months and years to come. We are committed to helping those who are impacted right now, and for the long haul."
The following resources are always available if you or a loved one need help immediately:
The national Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year resource dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people impacted by a natural disaster or emergency. Help is available in English and Spanish. Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers can call or text through their preferred Relay provider.
Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org. The person who answers your call is a trained counselor and can provide immediate support.
The statewide Peer Warmline, 1-855-PEERS NC (855-733-7762), is staffed 24/7 by Peer Support Specialists who offer non-clinical support and resources to those in crisis. Peers are people living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support through the lens of personal lived experience.
For first responders and volunteers, it’s important to take care of yourself while you take care of others. For stress, emotional fatigue, a mental health crisis or just someone to talk to, call Hope4NC Helpline at 1-855-587-3463 for free, confidential, 24/7 support.
The Disability Disaster Hotline, 800-626-4959, provides information, referrals and guidance to people with disabilities and their families during disasters. Help is available 24/7.
People who are uninsured or have Medicaid can also call the crisis line of the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization in their region:
Partners: 1-833-353-2093 (serves western region)
Vaya Health: 1-800-849-6127 (serves western region)
Alliance: 1-877-223-4617
Trillium: 1-888-302-0738
There are also resources available for people impacted by Hurricane Helene who are experiencing a crisis and need a safe place for care, as well as those have a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder.
Mental Health Crisis CareCommunity Crisis centers (facility-based crisis) are starting to re-open. Community Crisis & Detox Centers open as of Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024:
The Balsam Center, Haywood County – Open
Foothills Regional Treatment Center, Caldwell County – Open
Neil Dobbins Center and C3356 BHUC, Buncombe County – Closed
Caiyalynn Burrell Child Crisis Center, Buncombe County – Closed
Synergy Recovery, Wilkes County - Open
Walk-in Clinics People can walk into a clinic for mental health or substance use care the same way urgent care clinics help people with immediate physical health needs. Walk-in Mental Health centers are open in more than two dozen counties that may have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can view a list of walk-in clinics that are open here: Hurricane Recovery Resources – Vaya Health.
Mobile Crisis ResponseMobile Crisis teams are operating throughout the disaster area. Mobile Crisis teams can send trained clinicians to a home, community, or shelter to respond to an urgent need. To get connected with a mobile crisis team, you can call Vaya Health at 1-800-849-6127 and they will respond to you as soon as possible depending on your location.
For the most up to date info on Behavioral Health resources in the area, please reach out to Vaya Health’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127.
Opioid Treatment Available All Opioid Treatment Programs in the storm-impacted region are currently open. If you need to find a program, there is a real-time map with location, contact information and hours of operation available at thecentralregistry.com/map. Programs are working with emergency shelters, and all shelters have overdose rescue medications on-hand to provide emergency assistance to shelter residents if needed.
Behavioral Health Shelter SupportMost emergency shelters also have a behavioral health clinician and mental health services available onsite to support people currently residing in the shelter until they are able to return home or secure temporary housing. If additional supports, are needed, shelter staff can reach out to Vaya Health at 1-800-849-6127.
Connections AppThe North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is using the Connections App to make evidence-based support for mental health and substance use recovery available to anyone in Western North Carolina. It is free and confidential. Enroll at signup.connectionsapp.com to receive services like 24/7 peer support, virtual meetings and access to an online community of people in recovery from substance use. Whether you’re in treatment, have a provider, or are seeking support for the first time, the Connections App can help support you. Watch a short video to learn more.
Access to MedicationFor people who take regular medications for anxiety, depression, or any other mental health needs, it is important to maintain your regular medication schedule as much as possible. With some exceptions, the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program enables pharmacists to dispense a one-time emergency supply of up to 90 days of a prescribed medication when they are unable to reach the prescribing medical provider, and a one-time emergency refill of up to a 30-day supply.
Visit www.ncbop.org/emergencyoperatingpharmacieshelene to locate a pharmacy that is open and operating in Western North Carolina.
Medicaid FlexibilitiesTemporary flexibilities for people on NC Medicaid are in place to make it easier for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury to continue to receive services and avoid care disruptions related to the hurricane. Detailed information on these flexibilities and all the services they cover can be found in the Oct. 4 press release, Additional Temporary Flexibilities in Place for Medicaid Beneficiaries Due to Hurricane Helene Devastation.
NCDHHS will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to ensure the people and families in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene have access to both the physical and mental health services they need to recover from the storm.
Whether people need help right away after the hurricane, or later on as recovery continues, it’s never too early or too late to ask for support. Please reach out as help is always available to those who need it.
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