RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is allowing more people to participate in a mental health hotline set up during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Hope4Healers hotline was set up earlier this year for first responders, health care and child care professionals and others who work in those kinds of fields. Those essential workers and their families could call the line if they're experiencing stress from frontline COVID-19 work.
The helpline has served more than 160 people so far. Now, state health officials are extending hotline services to teachers, school personnel and their families.
Those individuals can dial 919-226-2002 and speak with someone trained to offer mental health support. Then, they'll be connected to a licensed mental health professional for a free, confidential short-term follow-up by phone or video chat.
Hope4Healers is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The program is also recruiting licensed behavioral health professional volunteers to support this line. Volunteers must register though the NC Training, Exercise and Response Management System (NC TERMS), which can be accessed here.