COVID-19 and Behavioral Health

COVID-19 and State-Funded Services

DMHDDSAS is committed to maximizing the reach and flexibility of North Carolina’s behavioral health and I/DD services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the flexibilities and other resources we have put in place to help ensure consumers, providers, and LME/MCOs are able to maintain service levels during this time. 

Policy Flexbilities 

Below are Temporary Alternative Service Definitions (ASD) that will be in place during the pandemic. Although each has been requested by one LME/MCO, they have been approved for all of North Carolina’s LME/MCOs to utilize at their discretion and within available resources.

• Bulletins/Memorandums
• DHHS COVID-19 Guidance

Telehealth 

Managing Your Mental Health 

Managing your own mental health and building resilience are important, especially now.

The Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) connects North Carolinians to additional mental health and resilience supports that help them cope and build resilience during times of crisis. 

The Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) is a new initiative in partnership with the North Carolina Psychological Foundation. It provides mental health and resilience supports for health care professionals, emergency medical specialists, first responders, other staff who work in health care settings and their families throughout the state who are experiencing stress from being on the front lines of the state’s COVID-19 response.

The NC DHHS COVID-19 Response page has additional resources to help manage your mental and overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Resources 

DMHDDSAS has developed some strategies for counties to support behavioral health and I/DD services during the COVID-19 pandemic.