A recent partnership between the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, and Veterans Services of the Carolinas led to a full-day mental health seminar that left a lasting impact on participants and the hospital community.
The seminar, Adult Mental Health First Aid, was held at Onslow Memorial Hospital and quickly filled to capacity. Designed to equip individuals with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges, the training drew a diverse group of OMH staff—many of whom engage with the public every day.
“Adult Mental Health First Aid provides knowledge and confidence to support friends, family, coworkers, and community members in recognizing and responding to mental health concerns,” said Jennifer Melton, Director of Suicide Prevention at Veterans Services of the Carolinas. “It outlines practical steps to offer meaningful help and connect individuals to professional care.”
Logan Smith Albertson, Senior Regional Liaison at Blue Cross NC, emphasized the importance of the training: “Noticing that someone may need support is an important first step—but just as vital is knowing how to gently guide them toward the behavioral health services that can be so impactful. This program helps people feel more prepared, and that confidence can make all the difference.”
Due to the enthusiastic response, the OMH Foundation is already exploring opportunities to host additional sessions for hospital staff and to expand programming into the wider community—particularly with a focus on youth mental health.
“It’s clear from the overwhelming interest that there is a real need—and desire—for this kind of training,” said Thomas Giffin, Executive Director of the OMH Foundation. “By bringing together the expertise of Veterans Services of the Carolinas and Blue Cross NC with the dedication of Onslow Memorial’s Education Department, we have the potential to create meaningful change across our community.”