Business Summit on Mental Health

Growing up in rural North Carolina and then working in public health and law grounded one of Anna’s goals as First Lady of North Carolina: ending the stigma around substance use disorder and mental health. Mental health and substance use disorders affect more than a million people in North Carolina. Stigma can be a significant barrier for people with these disorders to seek help. As First Lady, Anna Stein is working to reduce the stigma by holding open dialogues with state and local leaders and community members and promoting access to treatment and recovery services.

First Lady Anna Stein

Christoph Diasio, MD, shares a brief update on Sandhills Pediatrics’ approach to integrating mental health support, highlighting measurable progress, lessons learned, and opportunities for replication.

Christoph Diasio, MD, Sandhills Pediatrics

This session addresses the realities of stress, uncertainty, and burnout in the modern workplace. Participants will learn practical coping strategies that individuals and teams can use to manage stress, improve focus, and build resilience on the job.

Take a moment to refresh, reflect, and continue conversations sparked during the morning sessions.

HR leaders discuss emerging mental health trends in today’s workforce, common challenges facing employees, and practical strategies organizations are using to support well-being while maintaining productivity.

North Carolina faces a stark reality: there are fewer than 300 child psychiatrists statewide, mental health needs on college campuses are surging, and rural communities often have no specialist access at all. But innovation is meeting this crisis head-on. This panel explores how North Carolina is building a more integrated, accessible mental health system at every level, from university campuses embedding mental health services into student life, to groundbreaking statewide programs equipping frontline providers with the tools they need.

Enjoy lunch while continuing conversations with fellow attendees, speakers, and partners committed to advancing mental health in the workplace.

Mental health challenges affect students, families, and the workforce across North Carolina, making statewide collaboration more important than ever. In this conversation, leaders in the public and private sectors will share how they are addressing mental health across education systems, communities, and business.

A brief overview of research, trends, and resources from the UNC School of Social Work that can help employers better understand and respond to employee mental health needs.

Final reflections and a call to action, encouraging attendees to take what they’ve learned back to their organizations and communities.