Raleigh, North Carolina Therapists

The State of Mental Health in Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the second largest city of the state.  The city’s population is estimated to be 464,758 as 2017 by the U.S. Census Bureau and it covers an area of 144.0 square miles .  It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.  Raleigh was one of the country’s first planned cities in which a grid pattern was designed with the State Capital in Union Square as its center.  The creation of the Research Triangle Park in 1959 led to several tens of thousands of job opportunities in science and technology, which drew an in pouring of nonresidents to relocate there.  Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.  The median household income for Raleigh was $64,456 in 2017.

The area has a humid subtropical climate with four separate seasons.  The winters are mild to chilly and the summers are hot and humid.  Hurricanes can be expected during late summer and early fall in addition to an occasional tornado.

In 2015, Forbes listed Raleigh as one of the best places for businesses and careers as there are major corporations headquartered in the city, such as BB&T Insurance Services and First Citizens BancShares.  The state of North Carolina and its public school systems are the top employers of the area.  The city’s Research Triangle is one of our country’s largest and most successful research parks.  Additionally, it is a key center in the U.S. for high-tech and biotech research. The location awards it with the opportunity to be a major retail shipping point and a wholesale distributing point for the grocery industry.  It is an arts- and culture-rich community, rewarding the city with the title of #1 America’s Best Places to Live by Businessweek in 2011.  The FBI reports that crime is well below the national average and below the state’s average.  The Research Triangle Park and the presence of numerous universities positions Raleigh to be the third most educated U.S. city by Time Magazine.  The county’s public schools have been applauded for their efforts in maintaining a balance for their diversity of race and socioeconomics in how they apportion students to schools.

2010 numbers from the U.S. Census report that 9.2 percent of all residents in Wake County were divorced and 2.5 percent were separated.  In the state of North Carolina, 35,827 divorces and annulments were granted in the same year. Diana Elliot, a family demographer at the Census Bureau that year, states that divorce rates are higher in the South, because marriage rates are higher.

In the same year, the U.S. rate was 3.6 percent.

North Carolina is rated 32 out of 51 states (D.C. is included) in reference to overall mental health.  This means that the lower the ranking, the higher frequency of mental health issues and less access to care.  Their youth ranking is at number 29. The Wake County Community Health Needs Assessment conducted in 2017 discovered that the rate of mental illness and substance abuse has increased while the treatment services have decreased.  Both conditions, mental health issues and substance abuse, are prevalent and considered a high priority in seven out of eight service zones.  Increasing apprehensions include prescription drug abuse, heroin use, and feelings of hopelessness reported by the county’s residents in a focus group.  Behavioral health was the highest response regarding the top community need reported in every survey conducted.  North Carolina is in a behavioral health crisis.  In the mid-2000’s, the state allowed for many of its treatment centers to become private and this exponentially increased the costs of treatment.  The mental health state budget continued to decrease from 2013-2015 and the budget continues to be cut by hundreds of millions of dollars.

As youth suicide rates are increasing across the country at a rate of 25.4, North Carolina has experienced an alarming increase in this unfortunate statistic.   However, although youth suicides in the state increased 12.7 percent from 1999 to 2016, North Carolina is at half of the national average rates.  This is still one suicide per every six hours and the rate is higher for young Veterans ages 18 – 34.   For young people ages 10 – 17, the second leading cause of death is suicide.

How We Can Help

Making the decision to improve your mental health is a courageous action step.  It may be overwhelming to choose the next step, yet we are here to help you navigate the system and find a supportive provider for you.  And there is good news in that North Carolina is taking progressive steps to address outpatient and inpatient needs.  The introduction of the WakeBrook Campus psychiatric center has a superior expertise in services that has received positive testimonials and reduced the pressure on hospital emergency rooms.  The state has taken great steps in the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention program, which will help provide treatment and prevention for the residents attempting to recover.

Before choosing your therapist, take the time to list your symptoms, conditions, and concerns.  Consider what you would like to accomplish.  Personal referrals from friends and family are helpful for a variety of services, but therapy is an extremely subjective, individualized choice.  Once you have your list, consider the providers below to see who specializes in helping with similar experiences to yours.  You can narrow it down by any preferences that you may have such as gender, location (for example, preference of in-person therapy or virtual therapy), and education.  Many therapists offer free phone consultations and you can “meet” to see if it is a good fit for you.  Therapy and counseling can be work at times, but always worth the effort.

There are approximately 808 therapists, psychologists, and licensed social workers in Raleigh.  Sixty treatment centers are estimated to be in the city.  There is an estimate of 164 psychiatrists in the Raleigh area.

Crisis Centers

The Haven House offers youth crisis services, therapy for youth and their family, skills training, and intervention programs.

Wake Network of Care provides crisis support, suicide prevention, Cognitive / behavior therapy, group therapy, Dual Diagnosis treatment, trauma treatment, and medication for Veterans.  The services are offered to military families, young adult Veterans, adult and senior Veterans, active-duty military, and the LGBT+ community.  Services are reimbursed by the Veteran Association (VA).

The WakeBrook Campus offers crisis services for mental health issues, addiction issues, and to anyone with a developmental disability.

Nonprofit Mental Health Providers

Hopeway offers mental health services through their Residential Program, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient (IOP).  In addition, there is individual therapy and group therapy.

New Leaf Behavioral Health provides counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults.  They offer couples and family counseling.  Group counseling is available for children and adults.  There are free and low-cost services for those who qualify.

North Raleigh Mental Health and Wellness specializes in working with adults who experience depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, self-esteem issues, relationship concerns, life transitions, and the need for stress management.  They provide medication management.  This provider offers telepsychiatry, in which you can attend your appointments by telephone or through your computer.

SouthLight Healthcare provides mental health and substance abuse services.  Their specialty is a holistic program with integrated Behavioral Health Treatment and Medical Services with wraparound services to assimilate in a healthy manner into the community.  They work with the youth, adults, and the homeless community.

The Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) works with health care professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities for the delivery of mental health and substance abuse treatment for the Raleigh community, especially for the children, elderly, those with disabilities, and low-income families.

We hope that the directory is helpful to you to find a therapist who will help you in your journey to find peace and well-being.