Rowan County Public Health announced on May 1 a series of initiatives to mark Mental Health Month, aiming to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and connect residents with mental health and substance use resources.
The observance is intended to highlight the importance of mental health as part of overall well-being. Rowan County will offer free trainings, faith-based outreach events, digital education campaigns, and distribute a toolkit throughout May to promote access to care and information across the community.
Recent data from NC DETECT shows that in the first three months of 2026 there were 23 emergency department visits related to suicide attempts in Rowan County. This is slightly lower than the same period in 2025 when there were 26 such visits. Youth and young adults aged 10–24 are overrepresented among these cases. Drug or medication poisoning was identified as the most common method involved. Opioid overdose-related emergency department visits also increased by 50% from March 2025 (16 visits) to March 2026 (24 visits), with prescription opioids being frequently involved. Higher rates were observed among White and Black residents, males, and people aged between 25–44 years.
In response to these trends, Rowan County Schools have partnered with Novant Health for school-based telehealth services that provide students immediate access—within fifteen minutes—to licensed mental health counselors during crises. Students can receive up to six weeks of free therapy through this partnership while being connected with long-term providers as needed. The program is supported by funds raised at the John A. Campbell Golf Classic.
Several activities are planned for Mental Health Month: faith-based educational sessions will be held at First Reformed Church in Landis; a full-day Youth Mental Health First Aid Training will take place at Rowan Community Center; social media campaigns will run throughout May; and a digital toolkit will be distributed on May 1st.
Academic readiness remains an area of focus for local schools: Of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Rowan County school districts during the 2022-23 year, only about one out of eight (12.3%) met college readiness benchmarks according to state education data. For juniors taking science that year, about one out of ten (10.1%) were considered ready according to state education data. In reading, approximately one out of five seniors (22.6%) demonstrated college readiness according to state education data, while juniors reached an even lower rate at just over eighteen percent according to state education data. Math results showed even fewer students meeting college-ready standards: only about eight percent among seniors according to state education data and nearly seven percent among juniors according to state education data.
Residents seeking support can visit Rowan County’s Mental Health and Resiliency webpage or call/text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for immediate help.
