GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) - - Guv Roy Cooper remained in Greenville Tuesday to reveal a three-year, $3.2 million grant for expanded telepsychiatry services throughout the state.

" Those who grew up in rural North Carolina know how hard it is to get access to health care," stated Cooper. "Unfortunately we continue to see it each and every single day."

With this multi-million dollar funding, authorities stated it'll make it easier to get psychological health care practically.

East Carolina University is blazing a trail for the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program. They're currently running in numerous locations statewide but will now include care in 6 sites particularly for kids and teens.

" It will look much like visiting your pediatrician," stated Dr. Sy Saeed, director of the NC STEP. "You walk in a pediatric clinic to see their pediatrician. Everybody that concerns the site is evaluated, so it's not just for individuals who state I'm anxious or depressed, we screen everybody and based upon that, whatever the requirements are, we offer that service in that center."

Cooper said it's required more than ever for youth.

" Adolescents are revealing so many signs of tension nowadays," said Cooper. "Clearly social networks can be one place, school is another, dealing with the pandemic is another. We know there is a great deal of pressure on children and we know their mental health can be negatively affected."

Congressmen representing Eastern North Carolina said they see the impact this care will have in rural areas like ENC.

" We see clients from two hours north, 2 hours south, and five to six hours east," said Congressman Greg Murphy. "We're in a place where it is so crucial for telemedicine. This is now to where we can get and see to those people who need help now."

" We ought to do whatever in our power to get every child a battling possibility to realize the American dream here in Eastern North Carolina and beyond," stated Congressman Don Davis. "This is a huge action towards that."

Numerous stated this push to attend to mental health is essential, specifically for future leaders of our state and country.

" They are the future of North Carolina, they are our future workforce," said NC Department of Health & & Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley. "We require them to be strong, healthy and well."

Authorities have not yet revealed where those six sites will be. They say by March, they'll call those locations, and after that beginning on July 1, they'll be using care for patients in those areas.

For more information about the North Carolina Statewide Telepsychiatry Program, visit their site here.

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