​Eleanor Health is expanding its North Carolina-based addiction and mental health treatment services, which will be offered virtually and at a new location in Wilmington.

The company is expected to begin offering value-based in-person services at 2250 Shipyard Blvd. at the end of the month, according to a news release. On top of the more than 1,700-square-foot Wilmington clinic, Eleanor Health is also expanding with a location in Cary. 

“We know people are in tremendous need of personalized support--especially now as the COVID-19 health crisis continues, causing many to be isolated while facing loneliness, triggers and anxiety," ​said Eleanor Health's co-founder and CEO Corbin Petro in the release. "We are thrilled to offer expanded services to the Wilmington and Cary communities, supporting them in caring for their wellbeing in this incredibly stressful environment.”

"Wilmington is an area that’s been hard hit by the opioid epidemic and where we’ve had growing interest from members of the community to bring our model to its residents," she added. 

Officials said the company chose Wilmington because it wants to meet substance misuse, addiction and behavioral health needs.

"Wilmington has one of North Carolina's highest rates of accidental overdose deaths, one of the highest opioid prescribing patterns, and overdoses have been climbing in the area since the pandemic," said ​Danica Patterson, the company's North Carolina general manager, in an email. 

"Our hope is to join with the community in Wilmington to reduce the stigma associated with accessing care and to be a continuous source of support for those in need," she added.

The Wilmington clinic (pictured at right) consists of five employees, three of which are practitioners. The local clinic will be lead by manager Candace Harris, officials said.

Eleanor Health is an addiction and mental health treatment provider delivering whole-person care, according to the release. Its services include medication assisted treatment, therapy and counseling, psychiatric evaluation, recovery resources and telehealth services.

"The openings come as looming pandemic-induced uncertainty has taken a toll on the region’s mental health, with the state seeing 648 opioid overdose emergency room visits in November 2020 alone, underscoring the need for treatment providers to expand their services and delivery options," stated the release.

On top of the Eleanor Clinic, another opioid and alcohol addiction treatment center is coming to the Wilmington area, but not until 2022.

New Hanover County Commissioners in December approved contracts for the construction of a $25.5 million opioid and alcohol treatment campus in the county. The 200-bed facility, called The Healing Place of New Hanover County, slated to be occupied at 1000 Medical Center Drive. Trillium Health Resources is partnering with Kentucky-based The Healing Place to run the facility. The county will own the building.

For Eleanor Health, the opening of the Wilmington and Cary projects will total seven clinics in the state.

“We are looking forward to welcoming these communities and offering them services without barriers, meeting them where they are in this challenging time,” said Nzinga Harrison, co-founder and CMO of Eleanor Health, in the release. “Now more than ever, people need support that serves the whole person and that is our goal.”

Petro added, "Eleanor’s hope for Wilmington residents is that they will learn more about Eleanor Health and what we do to welcome our community members into our care with compassion and with a focus on improving lives."