North Carolina invests $17M in rural mental health

North Carolina is directing more than $17 million from its federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding toward mental health and substance-use services, with a focus on rural communities where access to care is limited. The initiatives include behavioral health clinics, expanded mobile crisis teams, opioid-use-disorder treatment, early-intervention care for psychosis, regional crisis partnerships and additional support for pregnant and postpartum patients. The state received more than $213 million in federal funding for rural health services for the 2026–27 fiscal year. Officials say the investments are intended to bring care closer to residents and strengthen access to treatment and crisis support.