'How Can We Help?' Expanding Mental Healthcare in Harnett County

With the opening of an inpatient psychiatric unit in Lillington and a community mental health center in Dunn.

Located on the campus of Central Harnett Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Dorothea Dix Adolescent Care Unit - Lillington was introduced with a ribbon-cutting in May. It provides specialized behavioral healthcare for adolescents ages 12 to 17 who are experiencing severe mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder or suicidal ideation.

John Bigger, Corporate Director of Behavioral Health Services, said the unit was the result of discussions that began in 2022 when a similar unit opened at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville.

"The day we opened that unit, people were already talking about needing a unit in Harnett County to serve the areas north of Fayetteville," he said. "It's one of the fastest growing areas of the state, and behavioral healthcare was one of the strong needs identified for families moving there."

Bigger said the need for adolescent mental health care was underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, as school closures and other distancing measures deprived children of social experiences that are essential to a developing mind.

"And with that isolation came more exposure to the internet, which presents its own problems," he said. "We are still feeling the effects of those things, and I think we will for at least a generation."

Patients typically spend three to five days in the unit and are seen by a multidisciplinary team of psychotherapy staff, psychiatrists, recreational therapists and other behavioral health professionals. Tailoring their work to each patient's age and interests, the team provides evidence-based treatment that includes a carefully developed aftercare plan.

"On the day they're admitted, we start talking to them about what happens when they're discharged," said Bigger. "What kind of supportive therapy will they need? How can we help connect them to the resources they'll need?"

This is one of many scenarios addressed by Community Mental Health Center - Dunn, which opened just a few weeks later. Staffed by board-certified psychiatrists and experienced advanced-practice providers, the center offers ongoing support for a wide range of mental health conditions for children, teens and adults.

"Some adolescent patients are there as part of the aftercare plan they developed in the inpatient setting," said Bigger, "and in those cases there may be a family dynamic that was identified, so the adults in the family can benefit from services there as well."

Most patients at the mental health center are being treated for conditions that are interfering with their lives but not to the point of hospitalization: depression, anxiety, ADHD and the like.

Bigger said these developments in Harnett County illustrate not only increased access to quality care, but also a lessening of the old stigmas around mental illness.

"People are so much more accepting of the need to get treatment and have their needs met," he said. "And we've also come a long way toward identifying appropriate medications and developing evidence-based practices for psychotherapy and psychiatry to treat a lot of significant problems."

By expanding these services in Harnett County, Bigger said, Cape Fear Valley is demonstrating its focus on improving access to essential healthcare services across the region.

"It's been really nice to see that support from senior leadership and from the community," he said. "This is a wonderful place to work because of that level of commitment."

For more information, visit capefearvalley.com/services/behavioral-health-services.