$1.5 Million Investment Brings Expanded Mental Health Care to UNC Pembroke Students

DURHAM, N.C. - The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation) is investing $1.5 million in the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) to improve access to mental health care for students at the University of North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP). This support builds on the success of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's (Blue Cross NC) 2022 effort to expand NC-STeP at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), which placed mental health providers on campus to help students get faster, more coordinated care.

Research shows that 75% of lifetime mental health disorders emerge by age 24, underscoring the importance of early identification and timely support for college students. Colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to provide mental health care alongside academic, physical health, and social supports. For campuses in rural communities, access to mental health services often remains limited due to provider shortages, transportation barriers, and long wait times, making new care delivery models essential to support student health and well-being.

"Patients with untreated behavioral health needs often experience worsening health outcomes and increased medical complexity, leading to higher health care costs across the system," said Brian Brooks, vice president of behavioral health at Blue Cross NC. "This innovative partnership with NC-STeP helps address the growing mental health needs of students by bringing mental health care closer to where they live and learn, reducing barriers to accessing care and supporting better health and well-being for students across North Carolina."

The investment strengthens the NC-STeP program, led by East Carolina University (ECU). NC-STeP uses telehealth to connect patients in hospital emergency departments and community-based settings with expert psychiatric care.

"This grant will allow us to build on the innovative work of NC-STeP in leveraging technology to provide care in the region and across the state," said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. "Partnership is critical to responding to the needs of our region, and it adds immense pride that ECU is working across the UNC System with our colleagues at UNC Pembroke to address the health care needs of students."

NC-STeP plays a critical role in expanding access to behavioral health care in communities with limited provider availability, including Robeson County, where UNCP is located.

Dr. Sy Saeed, executive director of NC-STeP and director of the ECU Center for Telepsychiatry and e-Behavioral Health, said the partnership is essential because it brings high-quality psychiatric care to a campus and region that currently lack it.

"It is grounded in the principle that there is no health without mental health," Saeed said. "Ultimately, this investment will help NC-STeP build a sustainable, data-driven mental health system that improves outcomes for UNCP students and creates a replicable model for other campuses."

Through this expansion, NC-STeP will help integrate psychiatric expertise into campus health services at UNCP, supporting earlier identification of mental health needs, faster access to treatment, and improved care coordination without requiring students to leave campus.

"At UNC Pembroke, we know student success is closely tied to mental health and well-being. This partnership with the Blue Cross NC Foundation and NC-STeP will expand access to critical mental health services for our students and strengthen the support systems available on our campus," said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD. "In a rural region where access to behavioral healthcare can be limited, this investment will help ensure our students receive timely, coordinated care so they can thrive academically and personally."

Supporting NC-STeP is part of Blue Cross NC's broader commitment to supporting the mental well-being and resiliency of all young people across North Carolina, including expanding Youth Mental Health First Aid training to reach 10,000 adults and teens statewide. Learn more at www.bluecrossnc.com/ymh.

NC-STeP, established in 2013, is a nationally recognized model for expanding access in underserved communities. To date, the program has completed more than 70,000 psychiatric assessments in hospital emergency departments, delivered over 42,000 patient visits in primary care settings, and screened more than 47,000 children in pediatric clinics for mental health conditions.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the leading not-for-profit health plan in North Carolina, is committed to improving the health and well-being of its customers and communities. Since 1933, the company has developed programs and initiatives that give North Carolinians the opportunity to live healthier lives. Blue Cross NC serves more than 4.1 million members, including approximately 1.2 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at www.bluecrossnc.com.

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