From the Desk of the County Manager, May 1, 2026
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Durham County proudly stands alongside our community in breaking stigma, expanding access, and affirming a simple truth: help is available, and no one has to face a mental health challenge alone.
Nationally, 1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition each year. Closer to home, Durham residents ranked mental health among the county’s top five health priorities in the 2023 Community Health Assessment. Durham County is responding through programs, partnerships, and a long-term commitment to the whole person.
Resources Durham Offers to Support Mental Health
The Partnership for a Healthy Durham’s Mental Health Committee is working toward three core goals over 2025–2027:
- Increasing access points for mental health services;
- Reducing hesitancy around behavioral health; and
- Advocating for policy changes that make the system easier to navigate.
The committee holds meetings monthly, and they are open to all residents.
Durham County’s Mental Health Court Diversion Program takes a treatment-first approach for residents whose mental health crisis has intersected with the justice system. Participants receive person-centered treatment plans, evidence-based care, and case management connecting them to housing, job training, and benefits, with charges dismissed upon successful completion. It is one of the county’s most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of incarceration.
Access Crisis Support Services
Durham offers crisis support for residents in immediate need and has multiple access points, including:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988, available 24/7
- Carolina Outreach Behavioral Health Urgent Care — Walk-in, no appointment required: (919) 251-9009
- Durham Crisis Response Center — Domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking support
- Alliance Health — Behavioral health services for Medicaid and uninsured residents: (800) 510-9132
- 211 — Free referrals to local health and human services
Mental Health is Community Health
Mental health is strengthened when communities come together, and Durham County’s partnerships show how powerful that collaboration can be. By working alongside local nonprofits, healthcare providers, and grassroots organizations, the County helps ensure residents have meaningful support at every stage of life. Our commitment to collective care and meaningful partnerships helps uplift every resident, no matter their circumstances, reinforcing a community where everyone can thrive.
Here are just a few Durham-based mental health care partners:
- NAMI Durham, NC, part of a state-and-nationwide network of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offers free support, education, and advocacy for Durham County residents living with mental health conditions. Visit their website or call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI (6264) or text NAMI at 741-741 to speak to a trained crisis counselor and receive 24/7 crisis support.
- El Futuro provides culturally responsive mental health care for the Latino community, and the Pro Bono Counseling Network connects uninsured residents with licensed therapists at no cost. Call the clinic directly at 919-688-7101.
Caring for Ourselves, Caring for Our Community
This May, we encourage all Durham County employees and residents to take a moment to check in on themselves and on one another.
A few events to check out are:
On May 12, from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the Durham County Department of Public Health will host “Mind and Body: Understanding the Connection Between Mental Health and Chronic Disease”; it is part of the Department’s What’s the 411 series. Register online today.
Additionally, Alliance Health is sponsoring an Adult Mental health First Aid virtual training on June 3, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., that covers important topics like anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addiction. Register for this training here.
Remember, reaching out for support is an act of courage, and in Durham, that support is all around us. Our community is rich with resources, compassion, and connection, ensuring that help is always within reach.
Until next week,
Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager