Adolescent & Young Adult Health

Talkspace for Youth Mental Health Integrated Care Rounds (November 2025)

Posted on by Lindsay Kenton

Description

NC InCK's November 2025 Integrated Care Rounds introduces Talkspace as a secure, accessible online therapy platform for North Carolina youth ages 13–17, offering virtual therapy, peer support communities, and self-guided mental health courses without requiring parental consent or insurance. The discussion highlights the urgent need for youth mental health support, describes Talkspace’s privacy protections and suicide risk algorithm, and shares upcoming community events and resources for promoting mental wellness.

Click this link for the November 2025 Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • NC Dept. of Health and Human Services is collaborating with Talkspace to offer free virtual behavioral health services for NC-based youth ages 13-17 who have been affected by the legal/justice system (including directly justice-involved youth, youth who have been victims of crime, and youth affected indirectly by the justice system, e.g. teens who have family members who are/have been incarcerated or detained by immigration enforcement).
  • The program is available for free regardless of insurance and citizenship status. Caregiver/guardian consent is not required for youth to enroll.  
  • Available services include messaging and live sessions with licensed providers, moderated online peer support communities, and a two-week self-guided mental health course designed for teens.

Resources

  • Talkspace Program for NC Youth: Form to learn more about and enroll in free Talkspace services. Page is English-only, although Spanish-speaking therapists are available; care managers may need to assist patients speaking languages other than English with completing the request form.
  • Talkspace Resources: Printable and digital materials to share program information with interested teens.

ECHO Series: Adolescent Behavioral Health Integrated Care Rounds (September 2025)

Posted on by Lindsay Kenton

Description

NC InCK's September 2025 Integrated Care Rounds discuss a case study in adolescent behavioral health and resources that can support families and children to proactively mitigate potential harm.

Click this link for the September 2025 Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • Depression commonly begins in adolescence. Between 2009 and 2019, the prevalence of adolescent depression nearly doubled.
  • Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. 90% of individuals who attempt suicide have an underlying psychiatric condition, and depression is the most common one.
  • Know the difference between active and passive suicidal statements. Active statements indicate intent or a plan (“I want to die”), while passive ones indicate hopelessness (“I wish I weren’t here”). Both matter and should always prompt further evaluation.
  • Referrals to behavioral health services often take time. During this waiting period, care managers can support families by monitoring the referral, helping them find ways to manage stress, and encouraging healthy behaviors like staying active and connected.

Resources

  • North Carolina Psychiatry Access Line (NC-PAL) - Provider-facing resource to connect providers with pediatric psychiatrists and social workers who can help identify mental health resources. This site also includes tips for how families can talk to their primary care provider about mental health. 
  • 988 Lifeline - 24/7, free, confidential mental health hotline that connects individuals in need of support with counselors across the United States and its territories. People do not have to be suicidal to call or text 988. Reasons to call include: substance use disorder, economic worries, relationships, culture and identity, illness, intimate partner violence, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness. Services are available in Spanish and for those who are deaf/hard of hearing. 
  • NAMI NC - Operates a free helpline to individuals seeking mental health support. This site also has a guide to navigating a mental health crisis.  
  • The Adolescent Health Resource Center - Information on mental health and care access for teens, caregivers, primary care providers, and youth-serving professionals. 

LGBTQIA+ Guide

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

This guide is designed to support NC InCK Family Navigators, care managers, care coordinators, and support staff in, understanding the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth, effectively engaging LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, and integrating the care and supports LGBTQIA+ youth need to thrive.

Supporting Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Integrated Care Rounds (September 2024)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

Join the NC InCK team as they discuss how best to support children and youth with special health care needs in the September 2024 Integrated Care Rounds.

Click this link for the September 2024 Supporting Children &Youth with Special Health Care Needs Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • Children with a medical complexity make up less than 1% of children in the U.S. 
  • A care coordination team can support families by understanding concerns, navigating financial or housing issues, advocating within the public school system, and guiding ongoing goals of care as well as discussions about realistic goal setting 
  • The CAP/C Waiver provides additional supportive services to supplement services from regular Medicaid Direct/insurance such as private duty nursing, durable medical equipment and supplies, therapy services, and home health 

Resources

  • NC InCK Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Guide: This guide is designed for Family Navigators and other professionals serving families of children with complex medical needs, intellectual disabilities, and/or traumatic brain injuries. This guide contains information to help Family Navigators and others connect CYSHCN to the services/supports they need to thrive. 
  • North Carolina LIFTSS: NC Medicaid implemented NCLIFTSS (Linking Individuals & Families to Long Term Services and Supports). NCLIFTSS provides Medicaid beneficiaries a long-requested single point of entry for accessing Medicaid Lomg Term Services and Supports and streamline processes between initial contact and service provision. 
  • NC Exceptional Children's Assistance Center: A parent organization, committed to improving the lives and education of ALL children through a special emphasis on children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. See the website for important resources, trainings, and opportunities to connect with a parent educator. 

Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Youth and Young Adults Integrated Care Rounds (May 2024)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The May 2024 Integrated Care Rounds discusses supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth in the NC InCK model. The NC InCK team and guests discuss health disparities, terminology, policy considerations, supportive services and resources, and the importance of affirming care.

Click this link for the May 2024 Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • LGBTQIA2S+ individuals are more likely to experience certain health disparities due to stigma and discrimination they experience in the healthcare setting and their daily lives.
  • In efforts to provide compassionate and effective care, it is essential to recognize key components of being an active ally. Learning about terminology, pronouns, and language considerations is an important step in supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Transgender and nonbinary youth who said their pronouns were respected most or all of the time attempted suicide at half the rate of those whose pronouns were not respected.
  • Gender-affirming care is life-saving healthcare for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals of all ages. Therefore, it is important to have awareness of policy impacts on access to care, how to identify affirming providers, and how to navigate support with parents and caregivers.

Resources

Adolescent and Young Adult Engagement and Well-Being Integrated Care Rounds (August 2023)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The August 2023 Integrated Care Rounds discusses Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) engagement in the NC InCK model. The NC InCK team and guests talk about what risks adolescents and young adults may face and how to empower families to set healthy goals together.

Click this link for the August 2023 AYA Engagement and Well-Being Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • The adolescent brain is particularly susceptible to addiction, with youth showing signs of dependance quickly. Nicotine dependance can develop within days to weeks after as few as 100 cigarettes, and before daily smoking. Nicotine impacts brain areas responsible for learning, attention, impulse control and mood. Youth-friendly resources, such as Live Vape Free (LVF), can play a crucial role in helping young people quit vaping products.  
  • It is especially important to engage Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) in their care. Tips for this include: talking with parents/caretakers about including their adolescents in care management, discussing consent and confidentiality with AYA and answering their questions, encouraging and involving adolescents in goal planning, and focusing on proactive skill building!  
  • NC InCK has been receiving community referrals from Juvenile Justice Court Counsellors since May, 2023. If a family chooses, Family Navigators can collaborate with Juvenile Court Counselors to better support and reach the goals of Juvenile Justice involved youth and their families.  

 

Resources

Adolescent and Young Adult Health Integrated Care Rounds (September 2022)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The September 2022 Adolescent and Young Adult Integrated Care Rounds event discusses adolescent development, adolescence, and the importance of Family Navigators during this period of growth. The NC InCK team also held conversations with a Young Adult Advocate and a Parent Advocate during this event.

Click this link for the September 2022 Adolescent and Young Adult Health Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Navigators can work with families to listen to the wants and needs of all youth and actively involve them in care. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults.  
  • NC InCK’s new Adolescent and Young Adult Guide covers key phases of a youth’s development and important services and considerations for care management of young adults.  
  • Guest Speaker: Youth Villages LifeSet program and their resources for young adults ages 17-22 years old. 

Resources

Adolescent and Young Adult Guide

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

This guide is designed to support Family Navigators, Care Managers, and Care Coordinators in:

  • Understanding the needs of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) in the NC InCK model
  • Effectively engaging AYA and their families
  • Integrating the care and supports AYA need to thrive