MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The South Carolina Department of Mental Health is launching a 24/7 mental health crisis response program in Horry County that will help screen and assess people experiencing psychiatric emergencies in the location of crisis, in person at a community mental health center, and over the phone.
“It’s all about connecting people to the appropriate level of care,” said Amanda Gilchriste, Program Director for Community Crisis Response Intervention for SC Dept. of Mental Health.
According to Gilchriste, often times when EMS and law enforcement are dispatched to patients experiencing a mental health emergency, they are not always equipt with the right tools.
“Sometimes, you’ll find that because people have called 911 and most of the community is not sure what to do with them, those people end up being committed and they don’t necessarily need commitment,” Gilchriste said.
South Carolina’s Department of Mental Health says this new program will help assist patients in finding the right services for their specific needs.
“Right now, a lot of people end up calling 911 because they aren’t sure what resources are out there,” Gilchriste said.
Not only would the crisis intervention help patients, but it would also free up law enforcement and EMS’s time and call volume.
“We found in Dorchester County, anytime that the ambulance doesn’t have to go out for a call that comes in for an emergency, it saves them (at least) around 1,500 bucks (between the cost of EMS transport, ER admission, and potential lab work),” Gilchrist said.
Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue is one of the departments that respond to mental health emergency calls in the area. According to Lt. Jonathan Evans of MBFR, their only real options when handling these situations are to take the patient to the hospital or have police intervene.
“Having other means for these types of patients is going to be very helpful I think on our end and their’s,” Lt. Evans said.
Horry County’s Community Crisis Response Intervention will launch August 1st, and shortly after, will spread to cover both Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. The service will be available 24/7 days a week, 365 days a year, and can be called toll free at (833) DMH-CCRI (364-2274).
