NC Health News: Mental health needs rising in WNC after Helene. How can providers help?

The immediate and long-term mental health needs of those impacted by the catastrophic flooding after Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina will be significant. NASW-NC Executive Director Valerie Arendt was interviewed by NC Health News about how mental health providers can help during this disaster. For mental health providers who want to go in person to help in Western North Carolina, Arendt said they should go through the American Red Cross’s health care volunteer portal or the governor’s office, which has set up a form, to be appropriately deployed. The American Red Cross also provides disaster training, which is a good first step for volunteers to prepare themselves to help.

NASW-NC has been pursuing a compact for social workers. A bill was introduced in the Senate last legislative session with bipartisan support, but it never made it out of the committee to a floor vote. With an inter-state compact, North Carolinians wouldn’t have to wait for an executive order to receive out-of-state help from social workers, Arendt said, and North Carolina licensed social workers would be able to treat their patients when they cross state lines. 

She said her organization will continue to advocate for this compact, adding that maybe health needs caused by Helene will motivate lawmakers to “do the right thing.”

https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2024/10/10/mental-health-needs-rising-in-wnc-after-helene-how-can-providers-help/

Learn more about how behavioral health providers can assist here:

https://www.naswnc.org/helenerelief