Creating a culture of compassion and care at Carolina.
Creating a community of care at Carolina means that we look out for each other. We take an interest in each other and work to address the well-being of all community members.
The Heels Care Network (HCN) website is a comprehensive mental health and well-being resource including events, news, a filterable resource hub and peer support resources. HCN is a place for all Tar Heels — undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff — to come together in support of each other and access the many mental health and well-being resources at Carolina.
Who We Are
The Heels Care Network is a collective effort of a wide range of people and entities across campus. Currently, HCN is supported by staff from UNC Student Affairs, UNC Human Resources, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and University Communications, along with students from Peers for Progress, the UNC Mental Health Coalition, the Mental Health Task Force, and many other partners across campus.
Why We’re Here
The Heels Care Network serves as a gateway to mental health and wellness resources for everyone on campus. It helps our community find what they need – whether that’s accessing a support group, learning strategies for mental health, connecting with trainings and advocacy organizations or attending wellness events on campus.
Members of the Heels Care Network collaborate to address environmental and systemic issues that may affect our community’s well-being. We work to remove barriers that keep people from accessing the many mental health and well-being resources on campus that help build resilience and support success.
We are in this together at Carolina. We care about you and we want to see you thrive. There are places to get help if you need it, and the Heels Care Network can help you find that support and get connected. If you know someone who is not doing well, you can access an anonymous outreach form to make a student care referral request.
How We Can Help
If you are concerned about someone, check in with them. Listen with interest to their response. And if they aren’t doing well, encourage them to access the wide array of resources accessible on the mental health resource hub. There you will find programs offered by campus entities, peer support groups, student organizations, community resources, and so much more.
In most cases that don’t involve imminent harm to self or others, a conversation with the person may be the best strategy. You can check out the Suicide Prevention Strategies for guidance. But more importantly, you can let us know, and a member of our student care team will check in on them.
Immediate help is available. Find the resource that fits your needs best.
History
In October 2021, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz first announced the Heels Care Network was in development. In November 2021, the campus hosted a day-long Mental Health Summit, which included more discussion about the kind of resources the campus needs.
- Learn more about the 2021 Mental Health Summit.
- Watch videos from the 2021 Mental Health Summit.
From 2022 until 2025, Carolina offered virtual Mental Health Seminars as a space to learn and dialogue about mental health and well-being. The seminar program connected the campus’ leaders in mental health and well-being practices and research with the campus community, touching on a variety of topics and populations. The program reached an average of over 100 participants per seminar, ultimately educating over 2,500 campus community members.
Beginning in February 2022, Carolina underwent a four-year partnership with The Jed Foundation to strengthen how the University supports student mental health, prevents substance misuse and reduces suicide risk. After completing the program in 2026, UNC-Chapel Hill earned JED Campus Alumni status. JED is a national nonprofit that helps colleges protect student mental health.