DMH/DD/SUS Director Kelly Crosbie joins Triangle Business Journal’s Sougata Mukherjee to discuss North Carolina’s mental health and substance use priorities, including ongoing Helene recovery efforts in 25 rural western counties and the state’s behavioral health and public safety focus under Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 33. Crosby explains the push for a consistent statewide crisis system that steers people toward 988 rather than 911, improves data sharing and call handoffs, and embeds mental health clinicians with 911 and first-responder teams. She outlines the expansion to 25 24/7 behavioral health urgent cares by year-end and community crisis centers with over 100 beds, supported through state and local funding. The conversation addresses misconceptions linking mental illness and violence, emphasizing early, consistent engagement, and highlights plans to increase staffing and beds at state psychiatric facilities and improve treatment and reentry support for incarcerated people.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:27 State Priorities Overview

00:46 Helene Recovery Focus

01:40 Executive Order 33 Explained

03:07 Building Crisis Response

04:25 Urgent Cares and Beds

05:46 Funding and Partnerships

06:33 Violence and Mental Illness

08:39 Stigma and Early Treatment

10:31 Year Ahead Wrap Up