Name: Care Out Loud: Onslow Mental Health Matters
Start: 2026-05-16T10:00:00-04:00
Location: 100 Recreation Ln, Jacksonville, NC 28546, United States

Care Out Loud: Onslow Mental Health Matters is the launch event of the Onslow Mental Health Awareness Coalition, a growing community effort focused on improving access to mental health and substance use resources across Onslow County.
Attendees can expect:
• Resource tables from local providers and organizations
• Information about mental health and substance use supports available in our area
• Opportunities to connect directly with community partners
• Live music performances by Wingo and The Elijah Harris Band
• Free youth haircuts
• A bouncy house
• Basketball and youth activities
• Wellness activities
• Giveaways and interactive experiences
• Introduction to the Care Out Loud Mental Health Resource Guide
• Information about the coalition’s ongoing efforts to improve access and identify gaps in care
The coalition was formed around a shared belief that support should be easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to access. Through collaboration, outreach, resource connection, and community needs and gaps assessment, the coalition is working to strengthen local support systems and help make care more visible across our community.
Our Mission:
To encourage a culture of caring out loud by increasing awareness of mental health and substance use, elevating available resources, and working collaboratively to make support easier to navigate and access.
This event serves as an introduction to that work. Care Out Loud brings together providers, organizations, community partners, and residents in one shared space to promote connection, increase visibility of available support, and introduce the Care Out Loud Mental Health Resource Guide, a tool designed to help individuals and families navigate services in our area.
As part of this effort, the coalition is also launching a community decal campaign featuring QR codes that connect directly to the resource guide, creating ongoing access points to support in businesses and public spaces throughout Onslow County.
Care Out Loud is more than a one day event. It is the beginning of a broader coalition effort to build awareness, strengthen collaboration, identify barriers, and improve access to care across our community.