North Carolina Expands Campus Mental Health Training

The state is partnering with NAMI to increase mental health first aid instruction across colleges.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Financial Aid

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of two hands cradling a glowing form, representing mental health support in a college environment. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is expanding mental health first aid training across state colleges to better support students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe your local college campuses provide adequate mental health support for students?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is funding a major expansion of a mental health training program to reach more college campuses. This initiative aims to equip students, faculty, and staff with the skills to identify and respond to mental health challenges.

Why it matters

State officials are promoting this initiative as a critical, cost-effective strategy to address rising mental health concerns among young adults. The training provides a structured approach to supporting peers before crises escalate.

UNC has trained 1,600 individuals since 2022, and the school now aims to train 600 more people annually. Nationwide, 75% of lifetime mental illness begins by age 24, while 68% of students report that their academic performance suffers from mental health.

The players

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

This state agency oversees public health initiatives and is coordinating the funding for the campus-based mental health training program.

NAMI North Carolina

The state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is partnering with health officials to promote and implement the new training opportunities.

UNC School of Social Work

This institution manages the Mental Health First Aid Program and has provided the training framework used since the program began in 2015.

The details

Participants learn to recognize and address signs of mental health and substance use issues through a course that includes online and in-person instruction. The program, which began as a pilot at the UNC School of Social Work in 2015, is now scaling up with support from NAMI North Carolina.

The Mental Health First Aid Program began as a pilot in 2015.
Three UNC Chapel Hill students died by suicide in 2021.
12 N.C. State University students died by suicide during 2022 and 2023.
NCDHHS announced the training partnership with NAMI on September 9, 2026.
UNC plans to train at least 600 people in the next year.

Culture Shift

This state-led initiative aligns with the JED Campus network's framework for institutional support of student wellness. The program marks a departure from fragmented campus responses by standardizing mental health crisis recognition as a fundamental campus skill set.

Students and faculty at participating schools may soon gain access to training sessions that provide actionable skills for supporting peers. These programs are designed to be incorporated into standard academic and wellness routines, requiring a two-day time commitment for those enrolled.

The takeaway

Recognizing early warning signs of mental health issues is a skill that can significantly alter the trajectory of a student in crisis. Interested individuals should contact their university counseling office or local NAMI chapter to inquire about upcoming training availability.