PCMHS
CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES
Program Description
The purpose of the Crisis Intervention Program of the Piedmont Center for Mental Health Services is to provide psychiatric assessment and immediate stabilization of acute symptoms of mental illness, and/or emotional distress. The program is available to all individuals within our service area who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis or are in need of evaluation for inpatient psychiatric or substance abuse treatment. This program is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.
During regular office
hours Crisis Intervention services are provided by assigned Mental Health
Professionals located in our Clinic offices in Greer and Simpsonville. This
program may be accessed by telephone or by walk-in.
A screening process has been established to ensure that persons seeking
crisis services are given priority. After-hours,
weekends and on holidays the Center provides access to the Crisis Intervention
Program through an in-house on-call system. After-hours access to the assigned
Mental Health Professional is available through a contractual arrangement with
the Mental Health Association of Greenville County (MHAGC).
MHAGC provides a 24/7 Crisis Line. Crisis
Line uses trained volunteers and paid staff to screen calls and provides access
to the professional on-call staff for after-hours assessment, intervention (when
indicated) and referral. Face to
face assessment and intervention, when needed, can be provided at a safe
location, preferably a hospital emergency room.
A person seeking
emergency psychiatric services may also present him or herself to one of four local
Emergency Departments. A trained mental health counselor is available evenings
and weekends at the busiest emergency room in our service area, Allan Bennett
Hospital. If the trained mental
health counselor is not available at the emergency room, the Emergency
Department staff are instructed to contact Crisis Line for access to the on-call
professional.
Philosophy
of the Program
The
philosophy of the Crisis Intervention Program is to provide easy access to
emergency psychiatric care in a non-stigmatizing environment. It is our intent
to provide these services as promptly as possible, in the least restrictive
setting possible and with respect for the individual’s strengths, needs,
abilities and preferences.
Goals
of the Program
To
provide prompt clinical assessment, intervention and referral services for
individuals experiencing acute symptoms related to mental illness or
emotional distress.
To
provide access to Crisis Intervention services twenty-four hours per day,
seven days per-week.
To
provide Crisis Intervention services in a manner that is respectful of the
individual’s cultural background.
With
the consent of the persons served, to provide for the involvement of
significant others in the process of resolving the immediate crisis.
To
provide services in the least restrictive environment possible.
To
provide an initial Crisis Intervention plan.
When
indicated, to provide recommendations and linkage for intermediate or long
term care.
When indicated, to provide access to in-patient psychiatric or substance abuse treatment.
Description
of Services
Initial screening to rule out emergency medical conditions.
Crisis
Management
Assessment
- Mental Health Professional
Treatment
Plan Formulation
Psychiatric
Medical Assessment
Linking,
Targeted Case Management (Adult and Youth)
Special
Populations
For
individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, a TTY Crisis Line is available.
The TTY Crisis Line provides 24/7 access to a Mental Health Professional
who is fluent in American Sign Language.
Facilities
and Resources
Crisis
Intervention services are provided by staff who are credentialed at the Mental
Health Professional level. An
on-call schedule is posted and there are procedures to provide back-up when
necessary.
The primary service locations for the Crisis Intervention Program are our Out-Patient Clinic offices in Simpsonville and Greer. Administrative support is available at these locations as well as adequate space for private interviews with persons served and significant others. In Simpsonville and Greer, a separate entrance is available for use by Public Safety officers when bringing someone in for evaluation.
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