October 31, 2025
Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Scholars from the UNC School of Nursing, led by Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, PhD, PMHCNS/NP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, are working with community partners to advance youth mental health initiatives statewide. Their recent participation in the “Stronger Together: Black Youth Mental Health Conference” in Rocky Mount highlighted collaborative efforts to expand access, build trust, and strengthen mental health care for youth of color.
As part of the BHI Scholars Traineeship, which is funded through the HRSA grant Partners in Practice, Engagement, & Education in Rural NC: Preparing Nurse Practitioners for Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care: Vulnerable Populations, future nurse practitioners are volunteering across North Carolina, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.
The North Carolina Health News article, “Black Youth Mental Health: Stronger Together Conference”, featured this collaboration and the collective effort to reduce stigma and strengthen mental health resources for youth of color.
The conference aligns with the NC Black Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan, launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in response to rising suicide rates among young Black North Carolinians. Between 2013 and 2022, 377 individuals ages 10 to 24 died by suicide. The plan outlines six objectives to improve the well-being of Black youth, including enhancing suicide prevention training, reducing access to lethal means, and strengthening protective factors.
Through service-learning experiences like these, BHI Scholars gain clinical and cultural skills to bridge the gap between mental and physical health care. Their work supports the BHI Traineeship’s mission to prepare nurse practitioners to deliver integrated behavioral health care for vulnerable populations.
“Partnerships like the one with Village of C.A.R.E. allow our BHI Scholars to learn directly from and build relationships with community experts who are transforming access to mental health services in North Carolina,” said Dr. Soltis-Jarrett, Professor and BHI Project Director.
“The Stronger Together Conference was intentionally designed to resonate with youth, aiming to educate and empower them by providing essential knowledge, tools, and support to navigate mental health challenges and advocate for their well-being,” said Elizabeth Pointer, BHI Traineeship Coordinator of Education and Training, who attended the event with third-year AGNP student and BHI Scholar, Kayla Roberts. “This youth-focused approach plays a vital role in fostering active engagement in their personal mental health journeys.”
