Governor Josh Stein and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai visited the East Carolina University Health Behavioral Health Hospital on Apr. 2 to emphasize the importance of behavioral health services in the state. The hospital, which has 144 beds and operates in partnership with Acadia Healthcare, offers inpatient and intensive outpatient psychiatric care for adults and seniors, with plans to expand services to children and adolescents.
The visit highlights ongoing efforts to improve access to mental health care across North Carolina. Mental health facilities like ECU Health’s are seen as crucial for connecting more people with necessary care closer to home. “ECU Health’s behavioral health hospital is helping the state pursue two crucial goals: connecting more people to mental health care and bringing people’s care closer to home,” said Governor Josh Stein. He added, “As the General Assembly returns to session later this month, I look forward to working with them to invest in people’s health care, including their mental health, and appropriately value the workforce that keeps North Carolinians healthy and safe.”
Secretary Sangvai said, “Ensuring North Carolinians have access to quality mental health care when and where they need it is essential to support whole-person health and well-being.” Tyler Davis, CEO of ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital, also commented on the facility’s role: “As the only dedicated inpatient behavioral health facility within 75 miles… investing in behavioral health care in rural eastern North Carolina is critical… We are grateful for Governor Stein’s visit and continued commitment…”
Earlier this month, Governor Stein called on lawmakers for a $1.4 billion Critical Needs Budget that would allocate $319 million toward fully funding Medicaid—the nation’s largest payer for mental health services—and includes a proposed 10% raise for nurses and behavioral technicians at state-run facilities.
Recent initiatives include a $1.5 million investment announced last month by Governor Stein into Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion programs aimed at reducing repeat crime by connecting individuals experiencing addiction with support services. In February, he signed an executive order strengthening coordination among several state agencies involved in behavioral healthcare delivery.
The Office of the Governor of North Carolina serves as chief executive over all state residents according to its official website. The office executes laws passed by legislators while leading policy direction through budget authority according to its official website. Josh Stein currently serves as the state’s 76th governor according to its official website.
