‘A Path Forward’ to improve behavioral health

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Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation has launched its campaign, “A Path Forward,” to raise money for behavioral health initiatives to benefit Brunswick County. The campaign seeks to raise funds to better provide treatment, outreach programs and community education addressing behavioral health.

“The Foundation recognized there was a growing need for those in the community with behavioral health conditions to be able to access proper care,” said Cindy Cheatham, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center Foundation development program manager. “A Path Forward is just one step toward the goal to reduce that gap in access to care, as well as provide outreach and education programs surrounding behavioral health in Brunswick County.”

The goal of the campaign is to raise $3.5 million to:

• Expand the Brunswick Medical Center emergency department to include five beds dedicated to behavioral health patients to provide better treatment and safety for all.
• Integrate Brunswick County Novant Health clinics into a countywide comprehensive behavioral health outreach network to improve local access to Novant Health medical experts.
• Develop a direct outreach program for early detection of behavioral health and substance misuse issues including telemedicine hubs serving county schools, with an initial focus on middle school students, and nurses on the front line of behavioral health and substance misuse issues.
• Initiate proactive in-school outreach and support for younger students. Support education programs on the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses. Increase the number of first responders, training and transportation in coordination with Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Anchor Initiative. The Anchor Initiative provides care, recovery and treatment for any person with substance misuse issues that seeks help from any member of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 44 million American adults, 1 in 7, have a behavioral health condition. In Brunswick County, the number of youth experiencing a behavioral health condition is steadily rising. Currently, there is one behavioral health provider for every 1,310 residents in Brunswick County, compared to the national average of 490 residents.

Community and team member donors helped make this program possible through Novant Health foundations. Make a gift to help save and improve more lives today.