New partnership between WakeMed, SouthLight works to tackle addiction, mental health disorders

WakeMed and SouthLight Healthcare have come together to coordinate services and transitional care for patients.

Noah Swabe, 27, is a peer support volunteer with SouthLight. He helps people who are struggling with addiction.

"We work on things, anything really. Like housing, to resources, coping skills, problem solving," he said.

Seven years ago, Swabe needed that help.

"I had back surgery and I got hooked on my pain killers and it just kind of spiraled from there," he said.

Bruce McPherson, 54, also volunteers at SouthLight. He used to frequently end up in WakeMed's Emergency Department due to his cocaine addiction.

He decided it was time to accept help and turn his life around, but needed more than just counseling.

"I was tired of getting high. The most important thing for me besides getting off the drugs was housing," he said.

Food and housing assistance is part of SouthLight's wrap around care.

"In the first couple of months, we've been already able to get about 15 people into housing," said Dr. Tad Clodfelter, president and CEO of SouthLight.

SouthLight staff members are now embedded at WakeMed to help patients with mental illnesses or substance use problems make a smooth transition to care in the community.

WakeMed leaders call it a crisis stabilization model that may reduce the number of patients returning for the same type of emergency care.

"That's where SouthLight comes in. They are a very trusted and fantastic partner and we have a lot of confidence in their ability to get out patients what they truly need," said Rick Shrum, vice president and chief strategy officer of WakeMed.

Some of the greatest therapy is for patients to return as volunteers to help others.

"You know, getting their own place, or getting a car, or job and getting to be a part of that is very special," Swabe said.

SouthLight Healthcare has begun a similar partnership with Raleigh Rescue Mission to help their clients with their substance use and mental health issues.