May 2026
May Is Mental Health Month: Rowan County Promotes Awareness, Access, and Community Connection
In recognition of Mental Health Month this May, Rowan County Public Health (RCPH) is leading a series of community-focused initiatives designed to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and connect residents to critical mental health and substance use supports. Mental Health Month is a national observance that emphasizes mental health as a vital component of overall health and quality of life.
Throughout May, RCPH will engage residents across Rowan County through free trainings, faith-based outreach, digital education, and media campaigns—meeting people where they are and promoting equitable access to care, information, and support.
Mental Health in Rowan County: What the Data Shows
Recent data from NC DETECT and Rowan County Public Health highlight the urgent need for continued investment in mental health and substance use prevention and care. Emergency Department (ED) visits related to suicide attempts and substance use reflect ongoing community challenges and reinforce the importance of timely, accessible support.
Suicide Attempt–Related Emergency Department Visits
NC DETECT, 2025–2026
- Rowan County recorded23 ED visits for suicide attempts in 2026 year-to-date (January–March), compared to26 visits during the same period in 2025.
- Youth and young adults ages 10–24are disproportionately represented in suicide attempt–related ED visits relative to their share of the county population.
- The most common methods associated with these visits include drug or medication poisoning, followed by unspecified mechanisms and cutting or piercing injuries.
- White residents account for the largest number of suicide attempt ED visits, though individuals across all racial and ethnic groups in Rowan County are affected.
Opioid Overdose–Related Emergency Department Visits
NC DETECT, April 2026
- In March 2026, Rowan County experienced24 opioid overdose ED visits, a 50% increase compared to March 2025 (16 visits).
- Opioid-related ED visits are trending upward following a recent low of69 total visits in 2025, with 2026 already surpassing early-year benchmarks.
- Prescription opioids have been the most frequently involved substances in overdose-related ED visits in recent months.
- Higher overdose ED visit rates were observed among White and Black residents, males, and individuals ages 25–44, with the highest rate among those ages35–44 (118.1 per 100,000)—well above the county rate of48.2 per 100,000.
Supporting Students in Crisis: School-Based Telehealth Access
In direct response to these trends, Rowan County Schools (K–12) now offer immediate access to lifesaving mental health support through a school-based telehealth partnership with Novant Health. When a student is identified as being at risk for a mental health crisis—or is actively experiencing one—they can be connected with a licensed mental health counselor via telehealth within 15 minutes of a request.
Novant Health provides up to six weeks of free telehealth therapy, supporting students while they are connected to a long-term mental health provider trained to address their individual needs. This model promotes safety, stability, and continuity of care—helping students remain supported and engaged in school while reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and the risk of harm.
Currently, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center treats an average of 40 students per month in the Emergency Department for mental health crises. This initiative is designed to substantially reduce that number by offering early intervention in a familiar, supportive school setting.
Funding raised through the 25th Annual John A. Campbell Golf Classic directly supports this program, ensuring that students in crisis receive immediate care, ongoing therapeutic support, and a safe path forward.