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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: South Carolina
In 2006, South Carolina’s mental health system received a B grade, one of the few states to reach the B range. In 2009, its grade is a D. This precipitous drop reflects the devastation of community mental health care at a point when the state is struggling with a budget crisis. Full narrative (PDF).
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Health Promotion and Measurement: F 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Consumer & Family Empowerment: C 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
Innovations
- Telepsychiatry in rural hospital emergency rooms
- Impact Program in Columbia
- Services for veterans
Urgent Needs
- Expansion of evidence-based practices
- CIT and jail diversion
- Mental health services in jails and prisons
- Housing options
- Access to care in rural areas
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"The commitment and capabilities of public mental health staff varies. It is amazing how in the face of continual economic cut-backs that many of these individuals have remained committed to their job."
"The services I receive are of first-class quality. I am deeply concerned about this quality being maintained with state funding so greatly reduced."
"It is difficult to get into help quickly without a long waitlist. Once I realized I was in trouble, I tried to get help but was put off as long as a month for care. I ended up being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility."
