Dr. Kelly Kimple, Acting Director, Division of Public Health | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Kelly Kimple, Acting Director, Division of Public Health | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is set to host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Thursday, March 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. The event aims to discuss mental well-being support and resources available for youth and adults in North Carolina, as well as assistance for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Participants in the event include Kelly Crosbie, Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services at NCDHHS; Carolina Siliceo Perez, Acting Director for Latinx/Hispanic Policy and Strategy at NCDHHS; Martha Thompson, Community Health Worker with Strong Minds, Strong Communities at UNC Greensboro; and Dr. Cesiah Hernandez, Psy.D., LCMHC, a Mental Health Clinician at Lucy Daniels Center.
The department emphasizes that "anyone can face mental health challenges" affecting people across all ages. It highlights that more than one-third of high school students in North Carolina have reported feeling sad or hopeless. Nearly one in four adults has experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression. Nationally, these symptoms affect over one-third of Hispanic adults.
"Mental health crisis services offer non-judgmental, confidential and compassionate care," providing low-cost or free resources to assist with social or family situations, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance use issues or just offering someone to talk to.
The Cafecito will be streamed live on NCDHHS's Facebook and YouTube channels where viewers can submit questions. A tele-town hall option will allow phone participants to listen in and ask questions by calling 855-756-7520 Ext. 119684#. Discussions will cover ways to support mental well-being within the Hispanic/Latinx community; mental health resources for youth and adults; how to access NC crisis services; and finding information in Spanish.
NCDHHS provides an online Crisis Services page available in both English and Spanish that offers guidance on whom to contact during crises through a searchable map for community centers and zip code searches for mobile teams. "If you or someone you love feels overwhelmed," NC crisis services are there to help.
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