From the Hyde County Behavioral Health

In rural areas such as Hyde County, it can often be difficult for people struggling with substance abuse or mental health problems to find the resources necessary to combat such issues. The members of Hyde County Behavioral Health and the Hyde County Substance Awareness Task Force have been diligently working to overcome this barrier by making appropriate services and treatment options readily available and accessible in Hyde County.

One of the new services HCBH is proud to announce is peer support. Peer support is a drop-in service for anyone who would like support for problems related to substance use or mental health. These sessions are led by Hyde County resident, J.D. Rea, Hyde County’s first North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist. Rea is available for individual peer support sessions, group workshops, and more.

Individuals can contact Rea to discuss individual needs for a peer support recovery plan tailored specifically to those needs, or individuals can simply drop in at one of his scheduled peer support sessions to take the next step towards a happier healthier life.

Rea can be reached at 252-542-0688 or via email at newlifejdr@gmail.com.

Peer support specialists are people living in recovery with mental illness or substance use disorders, and who provide support to others that can benefit from their lived experiences.

The North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program acknowledges that Rea has met a set of requirements necessary to provide support to individuals with mental health or substance use disorders.

Peer support is located at 1221 Main St., Swan Quarter, in the Hyde County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Building on the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be available during scheduled peer support hours.

For more information, visit the Hyde County Substance Awareness Task Force website at www.hydecountync.gov/substance_awareness or the Hyde County Health Department website at www.hydehealth.com. A Hyde County Behavioral Health website is under construction and coming soon at hcbh.hydehealth.com.

For questions or concerns regarding additional behavioral health resources and services, contact Hyde County Health Department Human Services and Substance Awareness Coordinator Caroline Tetterton Gurganus at 252-926-4366, 252-542-9236 or by email at ctetterton@hydehealth.com.