HORNETS, BLUE CROSS NC TO HOST “CHANGING THE GAME: A FIRESIDE CHAT” WITH FOCUS ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS

 Hornets Sports & Entertainment and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced today that the two organizations will host “Changing The Game: A Fireside Chat” on Wednesday, March 19, at Spectrum Center. The event will bring together community leaders, professionals and advocates to examine ways to approach the youth mental health crisis in the state of North Carolina. Young people in our state experience a range of mental health challenges, with one in five high school students seriously considering suicide in recent years and more than four in ten reporting they feel hopeless or sad every single day.  In 2023,  more than two-thirds of North Carolina’s 100 counties did not have a single child or adolescent psychiatrist. 

“Youth mental health is an incredibly important topic in our state, and we’re glad to team up with our partners at Blue Cross NC to shine light on this area,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President of Business Operations Shelly Cayette-Weston. “There is a need for more resources that can help our young people in this area. By bringing together experts in this field with leaders in our community, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations and actionable change.”

The Fireside Chat will feature a series of conversations with diverse leaders whose experiences reflect different facets of mental health support, ranging from school-based systems and clinical leadership to grassroots initiatives. Participants include Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Mental Health Program Manager Dr. Letanya Love, Heal Charlotte Founder Greg Jackson, Novant Health Vice President for Psychiatry and Mental Health Institute and Behavioral Health Nursing Paula Bird, and Despierta Founder & Executive Director Juliana Lozano. Hornets In-Arena Host Ohavia Phillips will serve as the moderator.

“In North Carolina, there are few health challenges more urgent than the youth mental health crisis,” said Blue Cross NC Chief Communications, Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Kelly Calabria. “It is a privilege to work alongside experts and community partners who are committed to addressing the mental well-being of our young people. By working together, we can shape the future generations and build a brighter, healthier future for all.”