>> Good evening and thank you for joining us for an opportunity to share and discuss an important topics for behavioral health and I d D and tbi consumers and family members.

The COVID-19 vaccines in getting the scoop on mental health.

Our evidence based approach being mindful of your mental health.

More than 10 months into this pandemic we are at one of the most critical points.

But it's also one of the most hopeful as effective and safe vaccines are being distributed across our state.

The health safety and well-being of all North Carolinians has been and remains our focus.

This very much includes getting the vaccine distributed widely and equitably and quickly.

You'll hear more about that from my colleagues doctor Michelle laws and doctor Carrie Brown who have been key members of the department's COVID-19 response effort following that I'll be joined by the division of mental health developmental disabilities and substance use disorders director Victor Armstrong to provide the work that we've been doing on scoop on mental health.

We will share information about how we can all navigate this stressful situation together.

And of course this wouldn't be a true town hall if we didn't have time to respond to your questions and get your feedback.

So we'll have time to address those to close our program.

Thanks again for joining us and for our partners at PBS North Carolina for helping with today's program.

Doctor laws doctor Brown over to you.

>> Thank you deputy secretary Kinsley, it is indeed an honor again for us to come together this evening to share vital information with the listening audience in particularly our behavioral health and I d D and tbi consumers and families as well as providers all of our stakeholders and I also think that tonight as the nation pauses to remember those who we have lost through this pandemic that it's fitting for us to start off our scoop series with an update on COVID-19.

I also want to acknowledge and send condolences to the 8,139 people we've lost here in North Carolina.

And let everyone know that certainly.

Our hearts and our prayers continue to go out to you and your loved ones.

So I'll start is out with really just talking about where we are with the spread of the covid pandemic and its impact on historically marginalized populations.

We identify historically marginalized populations through the work that we're doing under the secretary's leadership under the debt deputy secretary Kingsley's leadership and under the work with the hmp workgroup under the leadership of deputy secretary been money.

We identify historically marginalized populations as african-american.

Latin X and Hispanic American Indian him a grant and refugee populations.

And so we know within the context of behavioral health and I d d then add.

People with behavioral health IDD and TV eyes are found in all of our communities and across these populations and so if you look at that one for slide that we have it really just shows us.

How this pandemic has spread across North Carolina.

So right now 84 of North Carolina counties are identified as critical areas on in those are highlighted as red and then 12 counties are right behind it with substantial spread or and identified as orange and then we have 4 counties that we're where we're seeing significant spread.

And that's identified as yellow and so we pulled this up to start off our presentation on the covid vaccine to simply say that it's going to be up to all of us doing our part taking preventive measures to slow and stop the spread in this pandemic in North Carolina next slide.

As many of you may know in some may not know we've already begun the distribution of the covid vaccine to vaccines Moderna and Pfizer in the state of North Carolina and depending on where you are doctor Brown will go over the distribution strategy or distribution plan that will tell you how we are distributing by prior by populations and really looking at people who are at highest risk of exposure as well as death.

In the state and so depending on where you are soon hopefully you will be able to take a safe vaccine to protect you from getting on COVID-19 next live.

Currently recent data as of today there have been 344,456 individuals who have received their first dose of the vaccine and also 60,073 people who recently completed the series and their 2 doses both Pfizer and Moderna or 2 does tax nations and this map shows you basically across the state where people or on receiving or have received the covid vaccine.

Next 5.

As I mentioned are a lot of our focus the footwork that I've done and in my role even with the division of mental health TV and substance abuse services has really looked at focusing on the impact across populations but also does aggregating and looking clear carefully at where covid may be having a disparate impact and so I'm glad to say that in terms of the vaccination.

African Americans represent 10% of those who have been vaccinated so far.

Why it's 82% our American Indian population, one percent, Asian Pacific Islanders, 3%.

And our his tapes panic in Latin X population, 3% now some of you may think that those numbers look small in terms of our age and peas but in fact, one report has found that in North Carolina and particularly if we look at the african-american population, 10% is actually a larger percentage that we that we're seeing when we compare our state to other states in terms of blacks.

Getting vaccinated and we do know from other studies that African Americans have had highest resistance or hesitancy to taking the vaccine.

So we've been doing a lot of work and we're seeing a lot of traction being made in terms of providing credible information to help people make an informed decision about this very important vaccine as one step in in protecting themselves against the covid virus coronavirus next slide please.

I worked thankfully, we have a secretary who understands the importance of really you know being transparent and acknowledging where we need to lean in more we have the deputy secretary who pushes us deputy secretary Kingsley who really pushes us to make sure that we are providing resources and services 2 people as we say at DM age.

At the right time and to the right people in the right place and sometimes that requires us take a a look at where we're seeing disparate impacts or where communities have been disproportionately impacted.

And one of our focuses ban.

It within the ages response to the covid back to the covid pandemic has been to really look at the implications that covid is having.

Across communities certainly but without a GP populations as I mentioned before and we know that African Americans and particularly are hesitant to take the vaccine or have been hesitant to take the vaccine because of what I call historical medical traumas that triggers their vaccine hesitancy and so many people know the Tuskegee syphilis study that started out in 1932 in which African American men were in rolled.

In a study conducted by by the public health services and and CDC.

To studies syphilis is impact on the body and a lot went wrong with that study a lot of with an ethically done in with the way in which that study was executed from not really fully explaining the study not getting on full informed consent what people knew and misrepresenting what the study was actually about we also know if you have from North Carolina like I am I know deputy secretary Kinsley is this even native of North Carolina.

Director Armstrong, we know you know many of us who knew about or heard about a learned about the eugenics project also that occurred during 1933 1973 in which not just African Americans, but people with disabilities people who identified with mental illnesses and poor people we're Stuart sterilize women were sterilized either coerced into sterilization or without their full consent and so that that lingers in the minds of populations that historically I have not been treated well and historically have not fully been informed about the consequences of in being involved in research studies and then there's others there's doctors judging fingers famous radiation study next slide.

There's Henrietta lacks is well as the word that doctor Jane Sims did was recognized as the father of gynecology who home his could his his craft and practices science.

Really mutilating the reproductive organs of slave women next slide.

So these historical medical, China traumas acting is triggers in many communities and this is just one example of one population and we can think about the developmentally disabled population and those with SMI their stories also in which they were treated and ethically in resource.

There is there is cause for concern and there's reasons for these hesitancy that it's not just you know things that figment of our imagination right so weak approach this vaccination distribution plan in our strategy with fully with the knowledge of of of the implications of what those historical medical dramas have had on populations that we serve and that we love and care about so dearly and so we're leading with equity and we understand that we've got to build trust across all communities, including our behavioral health.

IDD and T B I.

Communities.

We know that racism or as well as discrimination of persons with disabilities run throughout all of our systems next slide.

And so as I get ready I want to to toss it to doctor Brown I want to just assure you of the few things.

One this vaccine has been tested it's safe and effective.

And it will help us to mitigate the effects and the harm that covid is causing in so many of our families and so many of our communities.

Scientists had a head start and thousands of volunteers to help with the clinical trials so for those who feel like it was rushed.

This research was underway long before we encountered this covid pandemic the vaccines are tested, safe and effective.

You cannot get covid from the vaccine and doctor Brown is going to explain how that actually works so you're not injected with the covid vaccine.

And stand and supplies will be limited at first though some of the things that we're hearing.

>> In the news about people having to wait.

You know some of this we knew and we understood what would happen and also because of you know our systems that are in place.

We worry not just sitting and waiting for pandemic to happen right and so we are busy at work recognizing some of the barriers and some of the challenges that we're facing in local communities getting the vaccine out to people.

>> As they hit their time comes in line, but we are working and we're working in the interests of all North Carolinians next slide.

I've mentioned this the night before I toss it in I will toss it to you next doctor Brown.

We are very proud that some of the researchers that worked on this really have ties to North Carolina.

And one is doctor kids media Corbett who is from North Carolina.

So we we we trust the science but most importantly we trust the people behind the science in this instance, and so we want to share with you our states distribution plan.

And what you can do to stay informed engage in also to get in line.

Get your spot to take your shot doctor Brown.

Thank you so much doctor laws and you know speaking as a psychiatrist, I I'm just so.

>> Glad that we are approaching this with the trauma lens and and really reckoning with.

Past and the medical field which is which is a tough one.

But we have to be transparent.

We have to we have to start where we are we have to move forward.

And and we've got to rebuild that trust and one of the things I think is important.

Trials for both vaccines there really was a serious effort by the scientific community to recruit historically marginalized populations so that we could have representation in the trials that that mirrored what we see.

In an hour in the U.S. population and and I think is the key a key facts so as doctor loss mentioned scientist did have a head start researching coronaviruses has been going on for.

Decades and and there weren't any phases that were skipped in the trial which I think is also important to know what we did differently.

This time with this with this rollout is that we the federal government church took a risk and started manufacturing a vaccine before had completed.

All of the phases.

That's a huge financial risk that typically the we don't make but we did in in this effort to to stop this pandemic and so all the faces were followed there's over 70,000 volunteers and now I believe we're close to over 13 billion 13 million excuse me 13 million individuals and in the United States that received the vaccine.

Both vaccines are safe and effective and it's there really were no serious safety concerns in the clinical trials with either a vaccine.

I know people have heard in the press about a severe allergic reaction or what we call in a full access.

After and the vaccine.

I think what's important to remember is you could have an allergy to anything and if you have a known allergy to one of the listed components of the vaccine.

That's something that would be that's really the only true contra indication me or what I mean by that is the only true reason not to take the vaccine.

And we know that it now that we have sufficient data that really only 11 people out of every million people have any kind of allergic reaction to 11 out of a million have any kind of allergic reactions to vaccines that vaccines are incredibly safe.

And it is effective 95% effective is really honestly better than what we could have hoped for next slide please.

This this line just goes to the point that I was making earlier that there wasn't very intentional effort by the scientific and medical communities to make sure that we were representing.

All comers and that we were really truly represented the United States in all the trials and as you can see.

For example if we look at depending on your census data african-american population in the U.S. is around 12 and a half percent and you can see that in both trials it was about 10% so not perfect but but really good bet certainly a step in the right direction.

Next slide please.

So we'll talk a little bit about how the vaccine actually works.

So doctor Ross mentioned there is no way to get COVID-19 the disease from the vaccine that's absolutely correct.

You cannot get.

That this is not a live virus vaccine.

There's no virus in the vaccine.

All of our all a vaccine does is it teaches your body.

To make a protein so that you can your immune system will respond to that protein and you will build antibodies and immune response to that protein and approaching comes from the virus.

It's not the whole virus.

The protein will degrade in your in your cells once once it's made but the important thing is it's priming your immune system it's it's teaching your immune system how to respond to the COVID-19 virus so that if and when you're exposed to the virus.

Your body has a head start it already knows it already has antibodies to ready to go attack the virus.

And that will make another important point here so because of this it is actually quite normal in the first particularly after the second shot by but also after the first shot to have some.

Fatigue.

Have certainly soreness and you're but you might even have a low grade fever or or a headache or aches and pains will be called my house is that is all normal that is a sign that your their immune system is working that is great news that means that the vaccine is working your body is getting ready.

Your body is building that immune response.

So that those sorts of responses to receiving the vaccine should be anticipated and unexpected and and again they're good sign next slide please.

So important to remember that currently the 2 vaccines available both the Pfizer by biotech and the Moderna vaccines require 2 shots in order to get full immunity and it actually takes a couple weeks after you get the second shot to you really have your full.

I mean a T. So I can encourage people enough the importance about getting both.

Both shops.

There's a little bit of immunity you get with one shot but but we can't sort of settle for a little bit here we have to go for being truly protected from this virus and with both.

Both shot you get to 95%.

Effect of this so that means 95 out of a 100 people that get the vaccine.

And are exposed to and when they become exposed to COVID-19 they will not get sick.

Those those 5 people out of a 100.

Really encouraging stuff here is none of those 5 people out of a 100 and clinical trials got hospitalized or died so so they may have still gotten the virus, but they didn't get hospitals they didn't die.

So this vaccine isn't is crucial to protecting people and getting.

Our society back to some sense of normal.

Next slide please.

This slide is is is actually thankfully quite out of date now so that was back from January 7th and we were only around almost 6 Million.

I believe we're we've just crossed 13 million in the U.S.. Americans that have been vaccinated.

Next slide please.

I will I will let the these wise words speak for themself.

But but I do think it's important.

You know when when.

When you're talking with their families we're talking with your colleagues we're talking with your friends when you're in the grocery store talking with the person that 6 feet away from you in the line.

You ask people what have they gotten the vaccine.

What are they thinking how are they feeling about the vaccine.

It's important to know sort of your white just like it's it's important to know you know why why do we continue to wear.

Mass facial coverings it's also important to know.

Everyone's reason for for receiving the vaccine.

Next slide please.

Not there's nothing about the vaccine that can be tracked so even though the vaccine head goes it goes into your system and your and your cells learned to make that protein all that degrades and then it's gone and there's nothing that is there's nothing left in you.

That can be in any way tracked in any way shape or form and it's all an end in North Carolina, we have a coronavirus management system which is our data tracking that that is designed to be able to do things like make sure that people can get their second shot on time.

That data management system is all completely have a compliant and protected and so none of your personal sort of details that going to the the everything's de identified when it goes to the the CDC, so you are not being tracked and there's and there's nothing we're simply.

Gathering.

Data to make sure that we're getting to a large proportion of the population.

Next slide please.

As doctor laws mention supplies are still very limited and I know that's hard because we've been waiting a really long time.

For.

Ray of hope as in this pandemic but every North Carolinian that wants a vaccine will get a vaccine.

We will get there.

I appreciate everybody's.

It of feedback to it in terms of how things have been going thus far we continue to.

Take that feedback and and make adjustments corrections you know to to that to the rollout as you know the federal government has continue to adjust its guidelines in terms of how to prioritize the vaccine.

So we are all working as best we can we really appreciate the engagement from the community in in in letting us know how you know how we're doing the vaccines are free so.

It is really important that everyone knows that you do not have to pay for the vaccine.

If.

I speak with are the our employee employees in our state operated facilities all the time and explain that many of our long-term care facilities for example are participating in the CVS and Walgreens long-term care partnership.

And they may ask for an insurance card.

But if if someone asked for the insurance card.

That is simply too bill administration fee to your insurance that cannot be billed back to you.

And if you don't have insurance then there's a mechanism for to build the federal government so.

There's no copays no one should have to pay anything for the vaccine.

And.

If you haven't visited your that your spot, your shot website that is very helpful place to go to see where we are the faces and but rest assured that everyone will have a spot to get their shot.

Next slide please.

This is a graphic of our most updated.

Phases and and we have now shifted from you may remember we talked about 1.

One be now shifted shifted to something that's a little bit some simpler terms of groups one through 5.

And currently we have to act of groups that are that are running at the same time so we have all health care workers and those are health care workers that are.

Have direct patient contact and we have all everyone that's both the residents and patients and staff of all of our long-term care facilities and that's because we know that.

Congregate settings are significant risk for exposure to the virus and.

Unfortunately where the predominant number of deaths have occurred in North Carolina and so we're really trying to stop death from this virus and and and hence the importance of of targeting or long-term care facilities.

It's also why we're targeting or older adults, 65 and up an end 83 if you look at I think the most recent data was that 83% I'm for sure unfortunately the deaths in North Carolina where an individual 65 and up, so 83% and 65 and up.

So these are.

The areas that are we are targeting first to try to stop as many deaths as possible.

We then we'll move on to our frontline essential workers.

And then 2 adults that are at high risk for complications.

From covid and and then finally to everyone and again North Carolina's committed to getting everyone that wants and a vaccine.

A vaccine.

And this just shows where we are about but where.

I think more so that so we're we're in long-term care and all health care workers and 65 and up.

Yeah it is but going back to doctor loss now sorry.

Well I I actually think I jumped ahead, I think this was your last one.

>> But so this is basically the shipment chain of how covid makes it into our state and basically.

How it becomes available to you in so the federal government decides how much vaccine.

Each state gets so.

>> Those of you who are saying why aren't you getting more vaccines out here.

>> Really that decision is being made by the federal government at this particular time and then North our department dhhs determines which providers will receive doses based on reaching the prioritize populations in the distribution plan that use yet that you saw so in each different.

Stage, the manufacturer ship stayed vaccines to our local providers the providers story and handle it safely and then began to distribute to to you so we try to shorten each length of time.

In between each of the chain's or each of the links in the chain.

The distribution chain next slide.

>> So it's important really that you know.

You stay informed.

Stay engaged visit our website dhhs we have a lot of.

>> Hopefully helpful materials and information that we're providing that's free to the public and so one way that I think you all and as as citizens as residents, not just citizens with residents of North Carolina.

>> Our consumers and our families and our stakeholders can be partners in this is making sure that your that you're staying informed in up to date and getting the most timely information to help you make the decision not just to take the vaccine.

But when your time, your spot coms and so health care workers were encouraging you to talk with your employers about where your spot is and according to the air.

The to their health and also job status, long-term care staff and residents should asked their facilities about when they should be able to receive the shot and help to health departments and hospitals.

Which are now vaccinating persons as as doctor Brown mentioned 65 and older.

Making sure the information is getting out and if you need additional information again.

We have stood up what we hope our valuable resources for the public or to the public and that additional information can be found on our website or DHA just website.

But also if you're looking for information about where to take your shot you can call the COVID-19 line which is listed on the screen but it's out say those to those who are listening in into this presentation tonight, 1, 8, 7, 7, 4, 9, 0, 6, 6, 4, 2, 8, 7, 7, 490-6642 are again visit our website and specifically the your shot you your spot, your shot dot NC .gov next lot.

This is basically what we've covered was working very hard to keep you informed, but there's specific things you can do next slide.

Doctor laws if I could jump in real quick I sure one thought comes to mind that I think may be helpful.

>> Yeah, I leave to either.

Either you or doctor Brown is.

>> You know as we're thinking ahead about kind of those phases.

I know right now everyone is really oriented around there being 2 vaccines.

But I know there's a lot of other vaccines in development.

Do you do either of you want to talk for just a moment about what may be happening there I think it will be good just for folks to know that at some point there could be a 3rd vaccine may only be a single shot so it's going to be important we continue having this conversation next exactly right now, I'll let doctor Brown jump and so even today I got a question in another.

>> Speaking to another group of stakeholders about the Johnson Johnson vaccine that's one.

Should one dose that's the one dose vaccine.

And how people may want to wait I say first of all.

>> Don't wait take advantage of what we have now does you know you never know what could happen right.

But but you're absolutely right.

Deputy secretary Kinsley that they're there.

There are other vaccines in the works and AstraZeneca we now is working on also so yes, but also we want to encourage people to take advantage of the resources that are available now.

This that this disease the COVID-19 as we saw in them at at the beginning of the presentation.

You know is spread across our state and the more people we can get back say vaccinating early and timely I think the better off.

We will be in the long run in really flattening that curve in mitigating the effects doctor Brown.

Thanks to tell us.

Yes speed really is important here in terms of reaching a level of population immunity.

>> And the other thing that's important to remember is yes there will be more vaccines.

Right now there are 2 that have emergency use authorization.

That's been approved by the FDA and the cdc's Advisory Council on musician practices haven't have made recommendations about how they should be used so we anticipate as the months to come there will be additional vaccines and yes, there may be a vaccine.

That's available.

In a single shot.

What's important is that each of those vaccines has to go through the same rigorous process that the first 2 vaccines went through and so.

It's a little bit hard to predict exactly when they might be available and we don't want to rush that because that's that's part of how we make sure the vaccines are safe.

You know agree that right now if it's your spot in in-line absolutely you should get the the vaccine and and that there will be but also that there will be more options over time and that will also help us reach more people and we have more products available.

Thank you.

Next slide.

>> But as I mentioned there are online resources.

We have one-page flier the facts about covid.

Vaccine we know there's a lot of misinformation unfortunately.

>> And you know bad news seems to travel a whole lot faster than good news right.

>> And so it's all of you know bad news is it's on roller skates and.

You know.

Good news seems to be on a snowboard on a drive play Blaine right nothing, no traction right.

>> So we want to make sure that everybody is getting good.

Timely information, especially the populations that we serve.

Everyone yes, but but for me I am all team division of mental health deviance of services and sound particularly concerned about our populations and our consumers and families but there's a one-page fire on on the covid vaccine frequently asked questions.

You know there's the slide deck that we're using tonight that you can have access to an info graphic of the prioritized populations that will receive the vaccine in what order and then a lot of videos which is exciting so go to the next slide.

I think it's on here.

Well let me get to this this is exciting to learn important.

Always continue the vaccine is just one additional.

Armor that we can use against this disease and so continue to practice the 3 W's even after you've gotten vaccinated I continue to wear.

You have your mask covering your nose and your mouth continue to practice safe distance 6 feet apart continuing to wash your hands and also you know sometimes we drop this but washing down surfaces hard surfaces door knobs countertops and so for that especially if you've got coming in and out in and out Ryan, we know there are some adult care homes.

There's no group homes and so forth and so making sure that you're also wiping down on surfaces anything that people are coming in contact with on the hard surfaces.

And you know we know that we'll be able to get ahead of this working together North Carolinians as I don't still down deputy secretary Kinsley.

Founder because he always makes us feel so proud to be North Carolinians he says you know we're tough and we've been through a lot we've been through natural disasters, Hurricanes, flooding and so forth and we've always come together do it did what we needed to do to rebuild and to be stronger and this is no different.

Next slide.

I think this is Mike sightings light yes, so.

Here we go let's continue to work together to share information we're looking for people who are interested in getting trained on presenting this information on covid we can't they're 100 counties and we know there's no way we can be in every single County in every single community in every County in every town in every city and so forth and so it's going to be up to you to make sure that you're helping us to spread.

This factual this the important information about the covid vaccine.

And so direct people to their spot and information on our website.

Also John you can when you get in line and get your shot we want want you to share your story.

So take a video recording a bad take a picture of that and send it to us there's a file that shows you how to do that to get it to us and and we we proudly promote North Carolinians doing their part to stop this this very you know they are aggressive.

Virus using share the covid vaccine Communications and materials that you can find again at your spot.

Your shot dot NC .gov next lot.

Now and I want to first asked doctor Brown if she has anything else that she wants to add before we I think we got a whole questions or Debbie sector Kinsley did you want to do I want to do the scoop and then we hope question and we I think we may jump in for a second because I think we may have one question and then we can definitely wrap up.

>> I do want to take a moment to say to echo what doctor low said as far as.

>> You know, good news.

Always seems to travel little slower.

Then kind of misinformation.

But I want to say is there is one person who is working really hard to combat misinformation.

It's doctor laws with roller skates on with jetpacks who's working very hard to talk to every single person in every single County across the state.

And from which we're very grateful.

So thank you Michelle.

And I hope that you all will join that team write I grew up my dad used to tell me believe none of what you hear and half of what you read.

Now I tell him that now and he reads facebook but never the last.

We're still saying that in our family one way or the other and so I really want folks are encouraged to go to trusted resources to get the facts and then the share the facts and when you hear information.

>> You know be a little bit suspicious get the facts and folks like doctor laws doctor Brown.

>> Who are working very hard to make sure you have those facts and hope that you won't hesitate to reach out to us.

So I do want to we've got one particular question that's come in that I think is a great one before we move on and thank you so much Melanie for this question.

But pitches over to you to doctor Brown you want to talk.

You know, I'm happy to join you a little bit about the plan for the second shot.

I think how do we make sure I think right now people are worried and I understand this with supply as limited as it is and not you know when people are trying to get appointments and call in how do people make sure they get their second shot and what's that window where where we have to be going after the second shot.

>> Get great question.

You know the way that the al-qaida shipments were currently is when so for example when a hospital system or a local health Department receives.

First dose vaccine.

So say they receive it.

This week and and say the vaccine is the Pfizer vaccine.

Automatically it happens that they will be shipped the same number of vaccines to that same location, 3 weeks later actually will be a little bit ahead of 3 weeks because that's an order building administer the second shot 3 weeks apart.

The Moderna vaccine is 4 weeks apart.

But the way we have set up the shipping system is an automatic process people need the rest assured that you that if if you do do want to go back to the place that you got your your first shot so for example, if you got your first shot at.

Wake County Health Department that you want to go back to wake County Health Department for your second shot because they will have automatically received the second dose for you.

I don't know if you have anything else that you want to add to that deputy secretary I know I think that that's I think that's right and we're working with providers hospitals local health departments mean ideally folks are scheduling those second dose appointments as you're leaving the first dose right I've heard of some providers.

>> Scheduling both appointments when you call in so that way you known, you know just like I schedule my dental appointment 6 months in advance when I leave the last one you know when you're coming back, you have it in your calendar and your planned together and now providers have put that in place but I think everybody is working quickly to get to that point but I think from the top line is that we can commit to you that the state is sending the second doses to those providers as doctor doctor Brown outlined.

The next question that we have is are there any recent news about vaccine efficacy against the South African variant does a great question to ask doctor laws and doctor Brown to take us.

>> So right now.

All the information we have is that that we believe the vaccine is going to be effective to the very there's multiple variants actually circulating right now globally I I'm that's actually to be expected Corona viruses mutate relatively easily the good thing is that the vaccine.

The way it works it you you build immunity to multiple different parts of the virus.

So the virus would have to mutate and a lot of different ways in a lot of like perfect spots in order for the vaccine to not work not a terrible technical explanation job.

But but and we were going to get more and more information but at this moment in time.

We believe the vaccines that that are approved the Pfizer the better to be effective to all of the current circulating the variance.

>> And I'll just add on to that that I think more reason to doctor Oz and doctor Brown's point about not waiting.

If it's your turn.

And folks are reaching out for you to have the vaccine go ahead and get the vaccine because what we do know is that it appears that this variation that we're seeing in a couple places around the country.

He is essentially more contagious and is moving through populations faster and so getting folks vaccinated will help slow that for all of us everybody taking their vaccine.

You know we're truly on the sun to get it all in this together folks are getting vaccinated all help slow the spread for everyone.

Okay well I think we're going to transition into talking a little bit about scoop.

It before we do that I just wanted to see doctor laws.

Doctor Brown any any final words before E and then of course we'll have more time we come back to questions.

I think we've covered it, thank you.

>> The lovely.

>> So let's talk about scoop on managing stress.

So I want to recognize that it gets dark very early now that we are in the effect of winter.

>> It is cold, I personally don't feel motivated to do much.

Outside of of the House >> and it has been at the end of what has been a very very.

>> Hard year for many of us for our family members who have experienced isolation.

Distancing from other people and some really challenging.

Situations some people have lost jobs, some people have lost family members and it's really hard to navigate through all of that and so I want you to know that our entire team is incredibly concerned about your mental health and we wanted to spend some time today talking about this unique moment that we're in and we wanted to do it in the framework of a tool that our team.

>> Created that is evidence base and it's called scoop and the scoop on managing stress.

Helps give you some tools to think about how to take care of yourself.

At this time and how to empower yourself in the face of the pandemic in the face of what can be a tough season to be end for many of us and specific steps we can take regularly so we'll talk a little bit about this.

And looking forward to the conversation next slide please.

Some of you know this already I hope that you do.

And I hope that you go around telling everybody what scoop stands forces scoop stands for first S stay connected to friends and family, I know that can be hard right now because it's different but after a year of different we're probably getting pretty good about what it means to stay connected to folks right now and I hope that you've built into your patterns day over day what that looks like.

Second the C stands for compassion.

You know how this all have some compassion for yourself and others I like to say when this is a time for us to be giving each other a lot of grace, I know that I'm not being my best self and I tell my team this I tell my family that's my partner I know that I'm not being my best self right now because I am stressed.

And we have all been working very hard in a very tough time and and I know that other people are feeling that way too and so taking a moment not to react to try to respond to listen to give grace to one another on and perhaps most of all to give grace to ourselves to recognize that it's a really tough moment that we're in which means observing your use of substances, you know we've seen for a dramatic uptick in substance use.

And substance misuse in in our state and I think it's really important to know that in stressful times like this it's very easy to slip into misuse and abuse and and folks should be careful and observe those amount of substances that they're using.

And then the next is that it's OK to ask for help.

In and I want everyone to know that you know if I'm that person for you that you need to ask for help from ask.

Or maybe there's other people in your life that you need to ask for help.

And credit Vick who speak more to this in a moment to always point out I think very astutely that.

Well it can be challenging sometimes when you feel like you're at the bottom other pet that asking for help was scary to actually incredibly empowering you can be an opportunity for you to take charge and take action and that can be really restored of to your mental health and then finally P physical activity to improve your your mood now my primary physical activity as of late has been coming my hair for many of you that have been have been keeping track of this online.

Thank you.

It has been over a year.

But there are many ways to improve your mood and I'm sure that we'll talk about those tonight and getting moving can create some hormones in our bodies can get things happening maybe that for you is dancing silly maybe that for use going for a walk maybe that is for you bowling or any number of things that you can do safely in the midst of COVID-19 so so think about how you can incorporate some physical activity in your life even if it is perhaps coming your covid hairstyle next side.

You know I mentioned already that scoop is really focused on using the best evidence that we have for what helps us manage stress and the team's going to talk through in more detail, how each one of these elements helps drive that.

That effort and what it does to a stern proven so so this is more than just a kind of a clever acronym to help us and this is truly a tool that you can use.

So we can all be aware in combat, we know that in behavioral health on the prevention is so powerful.

If we can all take some steps every day that we can really help improve our overall mental health and wellness next lot.

So I talked a little bit about the impact we're seeing in for those of you that tune in our last series of webinars you heard me say this that the data quite clearly is showing a pretty market increase.

In adults that are reporting issues with mental health and substance use and during late June, 40% of us adults reported a struggling cc those checkups.

31% of people talking about anxiety and depression.

26% talking about trauma or stress or related disorders symptoms.

13% you're indicating that they started her they had increase or substance use and 11% of people more than one in 10.

Head indicated that they had seriously considered suicide these are very frightening statistics and they speak to the depth and dimension of the impact that this pandemic has had on our lives and we've talked before about how in North Carolina we've seen a tripling of reporting of anxiety.

And stress and individuals and how we've seen a disproportionate number of that in our folks that are younger.

In our state and so it's really important that we are thinking, I'm not only about how do we respond to this but how do we respond to equitably because we know on top of the disproportionate impact the covid is having in people's lives, especially historically marginalized populations, people of color we know that these individuals also.

Part and parcel have disconnected access to systems of care to health care systems to insurance to study employment and that only compounds the behavioral health impact on folks live so it's important to us do we not only give a tool to everyone but that we're very focused on serving people disproportionate.

And in step with the impact that people are and sing so the next slide.

So I'm going to turn things over to Victor Armstrong or director for DM H D d s u D. In a really happy to have his leadership for those of you that don't know you know Vick made the choice of joining the team on the eve of COVID-19 I've said this before and he stuck it out so I'm very grateful to that and for his leadership.

And all these things work on the subject.

So thank you so much I do want to first to take an opportunity to come in.

Doctor brand doctor laws on the job they did with the explaining.

>> The vaccine process.

It is a very very complex process and I think it speaks to part of the reason that we're doing the the walking through scoop tonight because this is a very stressful time for a number of different reasons.

Not only have we been in the midst of this pandemic for 10 months now.

We've also seen the political unrest has been taking place across the country we saw the events that occurred in capital a week ago.

So there are a lot of things that have us on edge and even in talking about.

The vaccine.

Still a lot of uncertainty around the vaccine.

So there's still a lot of things that the vaccine that cost people a lot of anxiety.

So the anxiety is normal.

But what we want to talk a little bit about tonight is how you can help to manage their anxiety.

And I'm a firm believer that we are all placed here.

First and foremost to be instruments of of help and hope and healing for one another, but we cannot do that if you don't first take care of ourselves.

So first let's talk about stress in general stress is and embody experience we have a quote here that we've learned that Rahm is not just an event that took place some time in the past it is also the imprint left by that experience on the mind.

The brain and the body in this imprint has I'm going consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present so this goes on to say that the things that we're experiencing now they become a part of our reality they become a part of who we are and they become imprinted upon us because we are products of our life experience.

So as we are dealing with these things if we don't have ways to manage this stress.

It could become problematic overtime next slide.

Letting school is asked us for stay connected to friends and family.

And as you see here on the slice more than logical this more than just a feel-good thing is critical to health, including mental health, we know the staying connected helps us to feel like we're part of something bigger than ourselves.

One of the things that is true of people in general is that when we are in times of stress when we are in times of chaos we seek familiarity.

We seek to connect with other people who can help us to manage that.

So it's very important that we stay connected to a family and friends and it can be more difficult to do that in an environment where we are social distancing.

But there are ways that we can work to stay more connected.

Next lot.

So here's some of the ways that we can connect ports of is is.

We know that we have you heard doctor.

Brown share a little bit earlier.

That we try and end a clause well that we're trying to encourage people not to congregate.

Not to have multiple people in environment people who don't live with you.

But you can have ports visit us deputy secretary kids Lee and I would just talk a little bit earlier than he has invited me for ports visit some time ago that I have not they take him on up on the so-called but we plan to visit with the weather is better.

That's one of the ways that you can stay connected also a socially-distant walks I my family and I have I have my wife and 2 kids at home.

And we elected to get out on a walking trail near a house, it is an opportunity to get outside get some fresh air.

It's also a way to socially.

In us in a very socially distant and safe way we see other people we're not interact with those people sometimes just seeing other people out doing the fresh air is also therapeutic.

Also you can do virtual social media meet-ups there are opportunities for us to connect with people via facebook twitter all the different social media.

I wish that we have available to us now zoom dinner parties.

We don't encourage you to host dinner parties at your home because again we don't want to bring people into the home who don't live there.

But you can't have zoomed in the parties were you able to do dinner parties and spend time with people virtually of course phone calls and text messages.

Next slide.

The sea in school.

Compassion and empathy compassion being a concern about the suffering of misfortune of others and that empathy is to have the ability to understand or imagined be sensitive to the feelings of another person also want to want to to add to this that it's also important to have that compassion empathy for yourself to give yourself.

Grace in to give yourself space because of all the things that we're dealing with we do have should video.

But I've been Brown.

That kind of illustrates what we're talking about compassion empathy so we can roll the video.

So what is sympathy and why is it very different than sympathy.

Empathy feels connection sympathy drives disconnection.

>> Empathy it's a very interesting Teresa Wiseman is a nursing scholar who studied professions very diverse professions were empathy is relevant and came up with 4 qualities of empathy perspective taking.

The ability to take the perspective of another person or I recognize their perspective is there truth staying out of judgment, not easy when you enjoy it as much as most of us do.

Recognizing a motion and other people and in communicating that.

Empathy is feeling with people.

And to me I always think of empathy is this kind of sacred space.

When someone is kind of in a deep hole, and they shout out from the bottom and they say I'm stock it's dark and overwhelmed and then we work and we say hey.

I'm down I know what it's like down here and you're not alone.

Sympathy is.

>> It's bad now USC watch it.

>> It is a choice it's a vulnerable choice because in order to connect with you.

I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling.

Rarely if ever has an impact the response began with at least.

>> And we do it all the time because you know what someone to share something with us it's incredibly painful and we're trying to silver lining that I think that's a verb and I'm using is one.

We're trying to put the salon and around it so I had a miscarriage.

At least you know you can get pregnant.

I think my marriage is falling apart.

At least you have a marriage.

John's getting kicked out of school at least Sarah is an A student.

But one of the things we do sometimes in the face of very difficult conversations if we try to make things better.

If I share something with you that's very difficult I'd rather you say.

I don't even know what to say right now I'm just so glad you told me.

Because the truth is rarely can a response make something better.

What makes something better is connection.

>> So before we move forward didn't want to just take a moment if you don't want to offer some reflections on that because I thought they were they were several good things about them every day Brown is phenomenal.

But but a couple things that resonated with me one was that we see said to stay out of judgment.

I think is so important that we also stay out of just one of our cells.

And I think during this time it's easy to feel like you're the only one the struggling only when this this having difficulty dealing with all the stress.

But I think it's so important for us to give ourselves some Grayson that in the other thing I think to at least that resonates with me when I look at the video.

Is to talks about the importance of just kind of being president you know sometimes empathy is about just being present with someone and say hey I'm here I'm sorry that you're hurting but I care I hear you matter your life matters and sometimes people just need to hear.

You are enough just the way that you are.

>> Yeah I I will say that the point about just holding space really resonated with me you know for for for those of you who know me know that I tend to be like OK with the plan how we're going to jump in how we're going to go next.

I'll be honest.

I mean I think I'm I'm often susceptible where I have not shown up in the way sometimes people need because I have been all about where's the best thing that I can see coming out of that and how can we move forward how can I help him and I think it says it is really important for us to to to check that and think about and for me and it is always about what what what I want.

In the moment where I have shared that when I have gone to that dark place when I have been brave enough to be like here is where I am right now you know it's you know, it's a little bit of a it is it is an ask for help and way but has not asked for help that I need you to road map for me I need for you to just kind of be there with me and and I think that it's good also love how she and few some humor in those moments because I feel like it is so memorable and I do want to say I don't think when anyone has been in the dark spot of offer them a sandwich haha maybe a glass of wine a night raid was observed or use the substances I yeah I do have to jump in and just sort of say that.

>> Well first in terms of the empathy in the listening aspect.

I think.

>> It's amazing how effective it is just ask someone how are you and then just pause and listen.

Don't jump home don't don't provide advice just actually sit there and listen to their answer.

And really try to step in their shoes and and and feel where they're coming from.

The other thing is that that that I also have to mention the nerd in me I guess has to mention that there really is evidence behind this so in terms of staying connected to family and friends.

We know that social isolation is is one of the major causes or contributors.

I should say not cause but contributor to to depression and as I said we know that actually if you stay connected and that social.

Social connections or helps build resilience and helps in improve our ability to sort of manage stress.

And along the same lines with compassion.

There's some really interesting research that shows that individuals that have post traumatic stress disorder.

So they've already been through a traumatic event and have posttraumatic stress disorder.

Their symptoms of PTSD.

Are less and if they can show more herself compassion.

So it's I really appreciate you vick's mean, I'm mentioning how important self-compassion is because it it's you know this is a hard time right now and we've got all we know that we'll start by cutting ourselves.

Some.

Some slack and and and then offering that graced others.

>> Yeah, absolutely I agree I agree I think it was phenomenal to wonderful choice to to to choose been a brown, but I also the humor part is was it is also I think something that we.

Often don't think about as as as therapeutic but I think of it in as therapy is well.

>> And you know there's there's some religious doctrines or spiritual doctors that say you know laughter is good.

And so I I think that self-compassion part is learning how.

To take one day at a time learning how not to be so h#*#*#* on yourself, and also for me finding humor in something find something to laugh about.

And I've been in some dark places like like you know just living in it.

You know my grandmother who led us to believe you know make it out alive without going into a dark Valley every now and again.

So you know make it out of this world without having your ex share or experiencing something and so that self-compassion is is is really important and then also showing up to showing up.

A week ago Saturday to I had 2 deaths.

Very close.

Mothers.

My girlfriend's mom and then on just person who who was like a mother to me and you know just having people just show up to show up.

And that's so important so I think this is it this is really important.

I would always say social distancing, does not mean social isolation and we have to continuously stress that.

>> Yeah, I think you know just to kind of time that the first 2 together the stay connected and then the capacity to empathy you know I think also for me I find that it is is deputy to me to to reach out to try to put some good into the world.

So I think it helps us to the connection with other people.

But it's also healing for us I think to feel like we're doing something to help other people and so I encourage folks to look for opportunities to be that that to bring that that joy and to give that compassion to show that compassion to someone else and it can be very little things I am so I'm a part of us school leadership team from foot the school.

My my kids attend.

And one of the things that I'm making a point to do is we have these meetings is to encourage the teachers and say hey give yourself some grace you doing the best you can with what you have and I greatly appreciate the fact she taking care of my kids and that that means a lot to them to hear that another thing that that I like to do personally is once a week you see on Tuesdays.

It's a day that I will picked just a few people and as you see folks that I have not connected with in a while and I just text them and say hey I'm taking on France today just want to see how you do it you'd be amazed how people respond to that type of thing is I think anything that we can do like that to both uplift other people but also help us to connect and help us to feel like we're doing something in this very troubling space right now thinking can be very very healing assessed self soothing before we go to the next slide.

I want to say this because we're coming off the hills of celebrating the late reverend doctor Martin Luther King junior, and those of us who who are scholars of his work who.

>> Who have read.

Everything that has been written about him and that he's written for the most part it that we know of and has really studied him I remember reading some some of some work and where they identify that he suffered from depression and he also suffer from migraine headaches and and so when you said doing stuff for other people I immediately thought about him right you know he he tireless never gave up.

Pouring into other people into our society and into the world and he battled with depression and so I do think that there is something.

That we can take from those from that.

>> Well I'll share this and then we'll go to the next slide.

This actually has absolutely nothing to do about with this lap.

It's just funny and I think he's left so I had a one of my former co workers to reach out to me last night takes me.

And she says she sold her kids who are I think 6, 8, A picture of doctor Martin Luther King, and this person have to be a white female and she said hey do you know who this is and the first one said I think that barack obama and the other one said no that's Victor haha.

>> To get kids on the block man and I have to have to be a barack obama will take the attitude a great compliment.

>> My son Nick next slide.

So the in school is observed use of substances in this extraordinary time of increased stress is more important than ever that we take care of ourselves and I love with and it's very tempting to turn to the used to assess the system and just rest and so deserving a moderating or terminating use of substances in this time is is a good part of taking care of a physical most a special self I would add to that though that is not just.

Drugs and alcohol is also being aware of a food intake because I know that for a lot of people that's best when we go.

For comfort.

Is is to to to over eat and the comfort foods out also say observe use of substances but also be careful about the foods that you're putting in your body during this time.

Next slide.

We're talking about a substance use disorder.

I do want to stress because we talk some earlier on about some of the impact.

The coronavirus on the stock market populations of some of the historical challenges that historically marginalized populations have had but substance use disorder is an equal opportunity disorder it can affect people regardless of race ethnicity socioeconomic status employment.

Whatever so this is not specifically for any subset of the population, this is for all of us because all of us can find themselves.

During this time I think we've seen the the impact and the emotional toll in the physical toll.

That that the pandemic has taken upon all of us and all the other things that have been going on.

It's a time when many people have found themselves on the behavioral health spectrum where they have not seen themselves on the behavior health spectrum before, and that could be in the form of anxiety can be the phone depression, but it can also be in the form of indulging in overindulging and substances next time.

But here's the good news people can and do recover from substance use disorder.

Harm reduction techniques can help those who use Whos whose use of substances causing problems at work at home or in the community.

No one must recover alone.

There are people organizations that care about you.

We want to be supportive, you saw some of the resources earlier about how you can reach out we'll share some resources at the end but I do want to encourage folks to to to understand and to know that you are never alone this there are always people out there who are willing to help you and we'll want to talk to you and help you when you feel like you you don't have anywhere else to turn.

So it's okay to ask for help.

Struggling is normal ask you to help empower we talked about this a little bit earlier deputy secretary can see made mention of this I know that for many people.

It feels difficult sometimes when you are struggling in part sometimes because he fought with only one that they have in this struggle.

It's very difficult to reach out for help.

But reaching out for help can be one of the most empowering things that you can do whether you are male or female, I know for different reasons we all have our challenges a lot of time for women.

Women are expected to be the caretaker for everyone and you don't feel sometimes that you can reach out and say hey I need some help right now, I'm struggling.

I'm finding that I'm having some chopped a child with anxiety or depression, that's very difficult sometimes because you wonder who's going to take care of my children has to take care of my family.

If if I'm not being there for everyone and then from in oftentimes men struggle with being vulnerable.

And I know for me it's empowering for me to say hey you know right now I just need to take care of me I need to focus on making sure that I'm in a good place of the act and continue to give to others continue to be there for others but I cannot do that if I'm not taking care of myself so it is it is okay and not only OK to ask for help but it's empowering to ask for help and then a final letter in scoop is is P the physical exercise.

And I think that's so important because we know that the physical exercise increases improves our mood.

So I heavily encourage you in whatever way you can try to get some physical activity every day if you can't if if not tried to 7 days a week we talked earlier about getting outside taking walks.

Whatever you can do to try to get some physical exercise on a daily basis.

You can be so empowering it can do so much to help you move.

And finally we want to share some resources here with you I hope for Insee and I hope for healers, many of you are probably familiar with these things.

But we have these resources available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, the hope for in seat number you can call if you need to talk to someone if you are feeling like you.

Yes strong with anxiety, the press you just need someone to talk to you kids are struggling the hope in C line is there 1, 8, 5, 5, 5, 8, 7, 3, 5, 6, 3, That's +1-855-587-3563.

And then hopefully.

He'll is is for those individuals who are on the front lines we're talking about you know I first responders our health care workers or childcare workers.

Hopefully he Liz is there to help you that is 9, 1, 9, 2, 2, 6, 2, 0, 0, 2, this 919-2262.

0, 0, 2, if you or someone you know in crisis you first Call yell at me CEO crisis minds you can get called 911 and ask for a C at the officers and mental health emergency.

We have the number here to call customer services and community Rice at 8, 5, 5, 262-1946 or 9, 1, 9, 7, 1, 5, 3 one 9, 7 and again I cannot stress enough that hope for Insee Helpline is there for you 24 hours a day.

7 days a week and we have people standing by waiting to take your call.

And actually real quick before we go to the next slide just on this I think there's actually a type on that slide if we could make sure the sides back up.

>> The hope friend sea lion is one 855-587-3463.

So I may be so but we'll we'll get that changed and we'll make sure everyone had it there.

It is thank you excellent.

It's at the bottom of our scoop for there are skewed things so pleas for those of you who like me have this number programmed in your phone.

Or who say it over and over again and you know it if we could just make sure you've got that in your phone on because we definitely want as Vick said we want you to call.

We want you to reach out to us whatever.

You deed.

This is a no wrong door for you to get to the right place and we want to be helpful there several F and I will say this regarding ice Cooper, managing stress for anyone out there who's interested.

>> This makes an excellent zoom background.

>> They're pretty easy.

That is right, yes.

Spread the word this is the right stuff to be spreading.

Okay, so.

You've heard the 4 of us talked quite a bit.

We're going to turn here to our question and answer portion.

And we're looking forward to hearing from from you all.

But right before we jump into this question actually and Robin.

Thank you for this I actually have a question because I was thinking about a few things as Vick was going through scoop.

One is just an observation that I so appreciated the kind of 2 sides of the coin of that it's OK to ask for help and that it's important for us to find compassion and empathy for others right and that is we practice Cook finding that balance and being there for each other.

And how it all connects right I hope that you see all those pieces coming together and creating.

This community that we want to be in.

And and perhaps in the spirit of yesterday this sense of beloved community as we as we work together.

But I wanted to ask a particular question because I'm genuinely curious.

It's a throw this out to the panel.

I know that and to your point eerie about how we should ask someone how are you doing and then hold space for them.

I know that sometimes especially in the workplace or in particular families or in particular cultures.

The answer is often I'm good.

I'm fine.

And I know that there is this tension sometimes where its paws restart know how are you really doing right and trying and sometimes that's a push and sometimes I'm curious what people think about that is that too much or what what's the reaction there.

So.

>> So I've learned through my interactions with with different people is I ask how are you feeling.

>> How are you doing I've found people can interpret that in a very superficial way I'm good I'm good because I have a job I have a house that of that.

I'm not and you know usually have to say no really how are you doing and then and then something clicked in in where I just started asking people how are you feeling because I know how you're feeling.

And and I think that's important and I and I often do wait.

I often do encourage people to share.

You know.

That's great.

>> FOX yeah to add to a couple of ways one is and I said earlier so if I'm if I'm reaching out to someone virtually.

Yeah and I led off with him taking on France today so I want to I want to make that clear first that I'm coming to you as a friend.

You know how you doing.

And and hopefully they'll respond and often times people will say well you know get this going on I've had the covid of course I family had covid virus.

But the other thing that you know I do and this is this is just me and the people have to I think you know do the comfortable with, but I will if I'm talking to someone.

Either face to face or even if I'm on a zoom meeting with someone I will say.

You've seen low energy today you seemed tired today or are you okay.

That opens it up for them this too because it's it's not just a yes or no question I'm making an observation of what I'm seeing and then inviting them to talk about it and they may choose to talk about it or not.

But I haven't judge them I haven't cities anything wrong with you, but what I'm seeing is just seem a little tie seem a little low humidity.

How are you.

Doctor on the final thoughts.

>> I love Michelle's question about how are you feeling I think that's that's right on because you're right we're all we're almost program to answer the how are you doing question with I'm fine I'm good.

It's it's you almost have to can undo your natural instincts.

It to to give an honest answer to that so how are you feeling it actually does make you kind of pause for a moment and say well, you know what where to buy going to use to.

Described the mixture of things that are that is that's going on.

It's also really good modeling for kids the trying to identify different emotions.

>> And I'm glad you mentioned that because info.

So there have been different kids in in my home at different times for different reasons.

And I know there is one particular child comes to mind it experience I'm sure a traumatic experience and.

Getting that particular child to open up and to talk was was challenging and it and we always started how you doing are you doing okay and then when I began to say you know wrote the back in how you feel and you know how or even that that we started creating the different kinds of responses, not right away.

And and again I do think it taps into that but also.

I've also I can be I was a pushy but >> I also had to learn the hard way though.

To gauge when vote when people don't want you know when when they want.

>> When they want that answer to be the answer they don't want you to really push and so that's yeah I think part of his intuition part of it is just reading people's nonverbal cues like that just said you know you seem a little low energy but knowing when.

When your tent city helpful and supportive.

>> Sometimes is not the you know the approaches or the timing is off it's about letting people set their own boundaries yeah you can ask but then you have to back on the boundary a set right.

Yeah I think to your point to doctor was about asking how you feeling asking someone right now how you do and that's a big question.

>> Because how you doing what you know there's so much stuff going on and people know how to respond to it, you know and you'll get I'm doing OK, you know in in the mine nothing can under the circumstances and doing as good as I can be doing, but I feel like rap right now.

Getting to how you feeling does it does get to how are you individually coping with everything that's going on with you right now and I think that's what that the question this I like that framing it in terms of how you're feeling and what that was all those helpful to me thank you for for letting us do that and >> and now we'll we'll jump into questions so.

I think what I'll do is will take some turns going around reading the questions and then we can all on here.

So first question thank you, Robin have been Robin Byrd and did not know middle name bird.

So what should employers now about getting their employees registered in the vaccine management system is it every man for himself and say every person for this out for themselves.

And call the Health Department and try to get scheduled or their local health departments, expecting businesses and physician and mental health professional practices to send them their list of employees.

So this is a great question.

Welcome other members of the team to to jump in but real first, I will say that of course right now I want everyone to be clear that our phase that we're in a 65 in up all health care workers and those individuals in long-term care settings and so each of our vaccine providers across the state right now that is primarily local health departments hospitals and then a growing number of federally qualified health centers are community health centers.

Are working hard to really identify all of those phase one phase 2 individuals and the doing it in a in a variety of ways.

Some health departments in particular are reaching out to.

Those providers or businesses right now health care workers that may not be affiliated with the help with a hospital or health system to identify those listening get people loaded in to to get them and it's really you know the CVM system is is a tracking tool as doctor Brown mentioned it is really about identifying the folks and getting them connected to their appointment.

I think what has been hard is that vaccine.

Supplies very well I think through the phases that we're in we estimate roughly a million people.

Need to go through those phases it's actually about 1.7 million people but then you think about uptake in various things and so about a million shots.

The need to be administered.

In right now we're just about 400,001st shots.

And so I think what as hard as people are navigating is that.

The phases do not still are larger than the supply and so people are really struggling to go through so if there is you know every County Health Department is doing a little bit different every every provider you know we in North Carolina very much value.

The building programs that are.

Diverse and on the ground and meeting the needs of the local community.

And I recognize that it can be hard because I don't have one single answer for you on how they're doing it so it is work with your local health Department.

If you're if it's local health care providers are struggling to get connected there.

You know reach out to us and we will do that matchmaking to get you connected.

To you the local vaccinators you can of course go to our website and every vaccinate or in every County is organized by County.

So you can reach out to them, I'm different entities are doing doing different things so so I just encourage folks remember that you know we very much value and that the starkly valued in North Carolina, the flexibility of local communities being able to work with their partners to create things that fit their community and and so we were den a fine where those vaccinators are working with those community members to give them the resources that they need to do those partnerships that will give folks an accident.

We just have one question right now.

Wanted an Robin is the winner Robin asked the question that everyone has one.

>> Well I don't know if within in a moment here maybe a few other questions will come in but before we do that I don't know if any of our other members of the panel here have other questions or thoughts as we close out the evening.

>> Now I just want to echo what I think everyone is said and Victor the stated explicitly that we know these are difficult times and that everyone is is challenged by this pandemic in some way or another and so I'm really encouraging.

People to ask for help and also to seek information through our website and also trusted.

Influencers in their community.

With information that's trustworthy.

And I also know that stigma has made it very difficult for some populations to to to trust information to ask for help.

And so we are creating this space and really I'm hoping one of the main message is that people take away from this is that we are doing our.

To serve you and to serve you well and to meet you where ever that need is whether is you need to get tested because we still want to make sure people also I'm getting tested for covid especially if they they have symptoms or if they think they've been exposed, we don't want people sitting and getting sick by this this this disease not having been tested getting sicker the longer you wait to get tested with symptoms the longer.

More likely your chances are.

Fed that it could have those negative impacts or fix.

In terms of multiple chronic health conditions and an end and what we call a long haul.

Affects once you get it so the earlier just like getting the vaccine Earl.

Well, you know we want you to also make sure that you are still you know getting tested and following the instructions and guidance that's coming from dhhs we are trusted sources many of us on this team.

DHS says his team working on covid and and everyone I will say at the division mental health.

And Dee Dee and substance use disorders we are trusted resources and we hope that that we are.

Building that trust for people who have been let down in the pastor who felt like the system has let them down in the past or trying to.

I can say right the wrongs of the past but we're certainly trying to build a better system through this pandemic and that's all I want to share with our consumers and families and particularly that are out there watching yeah, you know I would add to that I would not.

>> Ask other people to do anything I'm not willing to do what I asked my family members to do.

>> And I can say honestly when my turn comes opportunity comes I'm going to get the side and I'm encouraging my my 80 year-old father to get the shot my siblings to get the shot.

Because I believe that's our best hope for getting beyond this this pandemic.

And I agree with doctor laws that you know I trust the information would be given and more important just to people who are giving me the information and so when my turn comes I am going get the vaccination.

>> Vic I appreciate your leadership in making a point I think that's really important and we did get one more question here so we'll take this one and then we'll wrap which.

Caught at appreciate this any developments of cooperating with ngo's are from nongovernmental organizations nonprofits et cetera to create retreats for health care workers to help them cope with PTSD I think that this is a great point and I think speaks to the work of our hope for healers line that we set up which was recognizing that not just health care workers but essential workers who work in the grocery store who.

We weren't able to to seek respite from their job but had to continue coming to work, especially as the virus has been spreading or or educators or child care workers who have been on the front lines of this have experienced the type of trauma here that is going to be lasting for a long time our school children who have had their entire.

Live shifted for a year or going experience perhaps a generation of trauma and and we're working on that this is a great idea of things that we can be doing and I think it goes back to some of the first words that doctor Brown mentioned which is what is the right trauma informed response to this moment.

Right how do we go and where do we go from here together.

And I think we're still trying to figure out those things I think this is a great idea.

And we'll we'll take that and continue to work on on other things we can do to respond.

So as we wrap up I want to do a quick round one more time cross everybody and to vick's point of of kind of leading by example and ask everyone what something that you've done from scoop.

Over the past year.

That you have found helpful in your life as we're all working together to make sure so so it's a team a victim and we start with you.

>> Yeah, I think the big for me staying connected I am an extrovert by nature so I need that that connectivity it's so stay connected to other folks I think it helps other people but I know that it helps me to stay connected.

So that's that's the big thing for me is reaching out to people virtually through social media calling me and said I haven't talked to him for ever.

Just called the cousin of the blue and just talking to them in making sure that they're doing okay or helping them manage when they're not doing okay and so I think that for me is is to begin with.

>> Well the little known secret about me is that I love candy haha I think people now haha so you know unfortunately, I'm stress might go to is like caffeine is like coffee and candy and that just really doesn't feel he very well.

So I've actually had to make a really concerted effort because you know this is months upon months upon months upon months.

To to be observed, I appreciate you Vic from for mentioning that you know it's it's food and substances.

I've had had to like become just like how many cups of coffee had I had today are you know maybe I won't buy this you know back to candy corn out instead, you know maybe some salads I've been really trying to so e. It's it's the it's the little things that that that do add up over time.

>> Many Peeps that we know it can do this.

>> Doctor laws.

>> So I've tried to do.

>> Most of of all of that on all of the scoop activities or actions on physical activity I would say has has been.

>> And exercise like Victor every day.

But my husband and I we love the outdoors we love hiking and finding beautiful places and in fact I would like to recommend it's not in North Carolina.

But it's an odd Greenville County, South Carolina.

It's called the pretty place we had a chance to go there.

High up in the mountains there in the Y at the Y and C ymc offenders so being outdoors being in nature has really really helped me in in love yoga I want to stay on the compassion side I have a tendency to I don't know if people saw the movie the secret life of bees some of my girlfriends call me made a system that you know had the morning while the weeping while him and you know carrying the weight and so.

>> I've actually had to to sort of monitor my love compassion if that's a fake doctor Brown United talked afterwards, but because sometimes I go to bed literally filling the wait.

Of it all and especially.

Working with the H M P workgroup just I I yeah I so I have to watch than.

But.

>> Thank you I will say first off that pretty place is a beautiful place and if you find yourself there you can climb off just the one rock can you can lay and take a photo and send it to your mother and your mother will freak out that you have fallen off the cliff, which is a great to stay connected.

But it is a beautiful beautiful life.

That I love but I think you offer say I will say and I joked about coming here earlier some of you heard me say that for me I really took up walking you know we have been in all of that you know people I hope this is clear mean the team at the division mental how develop most pilot-y substance use disorder at the entire department frankly has been working around the clock through weekends through holidays.

You know I have been very clear from the beginning of this that we don't know all the answers.

This is a once-in-a-century pandemic and that we came into this moment with you know it.

It is a year frankly in a in a in a in a period of time in our history where where the high of injustice and the fragility of our health care system and systemic problems were higher than ever.

And covid has made clear where the cracks are truly castillon's.

And it has been hard in our team in.

And and from the secret life of bees and any number of folks truly every day feel the weight of serving all of North Carolina.

And that has been an incredibly hard and I've been so grateful for folks and and part of working around the clock in our new life.

Together means kind of zoom calls constantly are what I call zoom roulette and so one of the things I put in place was walking during some of these calls so there's been any number of I was trying for a long time had 20,000 steps a day I've probably now feted back more to a casual reasonable 10,000 steps a day with the winter that it is and there's been a number of zoom calls were Meade for getting to me myself going.

Admission is I don't do deals.

Well.

>> But alas we try to we try to and hearing that is better than hearing bathroom, no bathroom noises in the background which we've all kind of crossed into that path together without boundaries.

So nevertheless I thank you for sharing thank you to all of you for taking some time out of your evening to be with us we saw value this you know I would say in the mix of everything that we're doing the policy work the planning, you know everything that we get into frankly just having the opportunity to connect with you going back to scoop is a great opportunity for us to restores me it reminds me why we do this work and it's for you it is for the people of North Carolina.

That I know all of us are incredibly proud to serve.

Just remind folks the vaccine for the virus is still.

Raging through our communities practice the 3 W's wash your hands wait 6 feet from others wear a mask and when it is your worst when it is your time when you're spot comes up.

Find your shot.

Go ahead and take it so thank you so much for being together we appreciate and remember whatever your reason get behind a mask.