As North Carolina pushes forward on the front of mental health care, Governor Josh Stein marked a significant milestone with the groundbreaking of WakeMed's Whole Health Campus in Garner. According to an official press release, the occasion underscores the state's ongoing commitment to address its mental health service needs. The campus is set to encompass a 150-bed mental health and well-being hospital along with a 45-bed acute care hospital.
"A healthier North Carolina is a safer North Carolina, and WakeMed’s whole-person health campus will support the state’s growing need for mental health services," Governor Stein was quoted in the North Carolina Office of the Governor statement. Sharing the purpose behind the initiative, Donald Gintzig, WakeMed president & CEO, affirmed the community-transformative potential of the campus, "This project sets a new standard in mental health care by providing a holistic environment that breaks down barriers to care, reduces the stigma, and provides hope for those in need of mental health services."
The project, touting a blend of emergency, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outpatient services, aims to address mental health concerns with a holistic approach. Garnering support from various quarters, including a $6 million grant from Wake County and its Congressional delegation, the WakeMed Foundation's philanthropic efforts also contributed to making this vision a reality. Spanning 53 acres, the site plans to offer a robust array of services including art and music therapy, alongside the expected clinical care.
In tandem with local investments, the 2023-2025 North Carolina biennium budget spotlighted an $835 million dedication to behavioral health, as per the Governor's office. Initiatives supported by this investment entail mobile crisis teams and child-specific crisis stabilization beds. Facing the future, Governor Stein advocates for a recommitment from the General Assembly regarding behavioral health endeavors, to maintain this trajectory of betterment for the state's welfare.
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