May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As COVID-19 shifts, many residents are still coping with the changes the pandemic has brought to their lives and emotional state—uncertainty, altered routines, financial issues, social isolation, and possibly increased alcohol or substance use.
MeckHope: Pain is real, and so is hope.
Mecklenburg County is working to ensure that all residents have access to mental health and alcohol/substance abuse services through MeckHope. Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly four in 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, along with difficulty sleeping and eating as well as increased alcohol consumption. To help residents cope, MeckHope offers 24/7 access to free peer support, mental health counseling, family support services, and referrals for alcohol and substance use treatment.
MeckHope brings a wide variety of providers under one umbrella, including substance use and prevention services, group psychoeducational services for school aged children, non-crisis peer support, mental health counseling, housing stability and homelessness services, and more. These services are available for seniors, adults, youth and families. They can be accessed at MeckNC.gov/HOPE and a variety of 24/7 support lines are available:
- General Resource: 833-390-7728
- Emergency Access (administered by Alliance Health): 800-510-9132
- Alcohol/Substance Abuse Issues: 704-445-6900
- Veterans Resources: 800-510-9132
