Secondary data analysis identified mental health as a significant concern for Carteret County residents across several measures. The county's crude death rate for deaths of despair (91.8 per 100,000 population) is substantially higher than both state (58.7) and national (55.9) averages, indicating a critical need for mental health intervention and support services.  Similarly, the crude rate of suicide (21.1 per 100,000) also surpasses the state (14.0) and national rates (14.5).   Access to mental health care presents a significant challenge in the county. The rate of mental health providers (78.3 per 100,000 population) is substantially lower than both state (155.7) and national (178.7) averages, suggesting potential barriers to accessing mental health services. Provider distribution analysis shows these mental health professionals are concentrated in the southwestern portion of the county, indicating possible geographic disparities in access to care.