Several community stakeholders and healthcare organizations are coming together to address the area’s ongoing mental health crisis.

Vital Spartanburg aims to improve mental health outcomes, reduce suicide rates, decrease opioid use and expand access to mental and behavioral health services throughout Spartanburg County.

Several nonprofits, philanthropists, municipalities and healthcare organizations gathered at Spartanburg Regional’s Beaumont Mill facility June 30 to formally launch Vital Spartanburg.

“Vital Spartanburg was born from a shared recognition that no single organization can solve our community's mental health challenges alone. By breaking down silos, strengthening systems and coordinating our efforts, we have an opportunity to create meaningful change,” said Polly Edwards-Padgett, executive director of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, which serves as the backbone support for Vital Spartanburg. “Supporting the medical journey and continuums of support for individuals and families will be felt for generations.”

Since 2024, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, local governments, and philanthropic partners have worked together to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the growing mental health crisis in Spartanburg County. Their efforts focused on engaging key stakeholders, identifying gaps in care and developing immediate, community-wide solutions. Now known as Vital Spartanburg, the initiative will both pilot innovative new programs and strengthen, expand and coordinate existing services already operating in the community.

“The process was unique from day one. Service providers, healthcare institutions, government representatives and funders collaborated on both the development of the plan and its implementation, fundraising and evaluation,” said Molly Talbot-Metz, president and CEO of the Mary Black Foundation, a major funder of the initiative. “This collaborative approach ensured broad community input and representation during the planning process and will allow for ongoing feedback throughout implementation.”

Spartanburg Regional Foundation’s $3 million investment and Mary Black Foundation’s $6 million investment were instrumental in making Vital Spartanburg a reality and providing the resources necessary to address the specific needs of key populations.

By focusing on key populations — youth and families, and individuals living with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorder — Vital Spartanburg has established actionable goals to reduce mental

health challenges and frequent mental distress, decrease behavioral-health-related hospital visits, lower suicide rates and reduce opioid overdoses and overdose deaths.

“With one in five adults experiencing mental illness each year, the need for connected, coordinated care in our community has never been more urgent. Through Vital Spartanburg, we have an opportunity to meet people where they are and strengthen partnerships across systems,” said Dr. Ebony Gaffney, executive director and medical director of the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center. “Together, this work will expand access, improve outcomes and ensure that more individuals and families receive the care and support they need to thrive.”

Vital Spartanburg will pursue these goals through a range of community-based strategies, including launching awareness and stigma-reduction campaigns, improving data-sharing and referral systems among healthcare partners, improve integration of mental and behavioral health services, and expanding the mental and behavioral healthcare workforce.

Across Spartanburg County, many youth, and adults continue to struggle with persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, affecting overall well-being, productivity and suicide risk. Opioid overdoses and overdose deaths in the region remain at historically high levels. Emergency departments in Spartanburg treat more than 5,000 patients annually whose needs could potentially be addressed through earlier access to mental or behavioral health care. In addition, some of the county’s most vulnerable residents — including individuals experiencing homelessness or substance use disorders — face significant barriers to accessing care.

“Mental and behavioral health challenges are affecting individuals, families, workplaces and schools across Spartanburg County, making this one of the most urgent issues facing our community today,” said Phil Feisal, Spartanburg Regional's executive vice president and system chief operating officer of the Hospital Group. “Vital Spartanburg brings together healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, government leaders, philanthropists and community partners around a shared strategy to create lasting solutions and improve access to care for those who need it most.”

Vital Spartanburg's work is already underway and will continue through 2029. Specific campaigns, projects and initiatives will be announced as they are launched. For more information, including a complete list of participating organizations, local data, and the history of the initiative’s development, visit vitalspartanburg.org.