GUEST EDITORIAL
A healthy choice for county schools
By RICHARD HARRISON MAT, M.Div., D.Min., L.P.C. Acting Director - Cherokee Mental Health and Counseling Center

Richard Harrison

In today's society, it is crucial that we recognize the mental health needs of our children and adolescents as psychosocial and health problems can arise that profoundly affect their learning and social and emotional development.

The South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) is committed to providing mental health services in schools throughout South Carolina through its nationally recognized school-based program. Mental health counselors work in schools to deliver a wide range of services, which include individual, family, and group counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric consultation, community support, rehabilitation services and consultations with school staff.

In Cherokee County, we are fortunate to have school-based programs in 11 of our schools, serving 82 children and adolescents. These schools are Gaffney High School, Gaffney Middle School, Gaffney Alternative, Granard Middle School, Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg Middle School, Blacksburg Elementary, Blacksburg Primary, Ewing Middle School, Luther Vaughn Elementary and Mary Bramlett Elementary.

The Cherokee County mental health school-based program is composed of a team of dedicated professionals who assist the parents, teachers and guidance counselors in the development of comprehensive strategies for resolving educational, psychological and emotional disturbances. The inclusion of mental health services in schools provides an opportunity for the schools to deal with the obstacles that can interfere with educating our youth.

The Cherokee Mental Health and Counseling Center, located in Gaffney, is grateful to have such committed personnel as Brooke Guthrie, supervisor, Granard Middle School; Sara Baker, Gaffney High School and Gaffney Alternative School; and Beth Hyatt, who serves Luther Vaughn and Mary Bramlett Elementary Schools, Blacksburg Primary, Elementary, Middle and High Schools, Gaffney Middle School and Ewing Middle School. In addition to their school-based counseling services, their schedules consist of managing many other mental health cases through the Cherokee mental health center.

Referrals to the school-based program are received from school guidance counselors, the child's primary care physician or by the parents. Parents can seek assistance by visiting the Cherokee Mental Health and Counseling Center at 125 East Robinson St. or by contacting the center at 864-487-2710. Typical referrals for services include adjustment disorders, victims of trauma, disruptive/aggressive behaviors, Oppositional Defiant

Disorder (ODD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders.

In 2007, the SCDMH served 13,034 youths in 457 school-based mental health programs in the state, with 42 percent of South Carolina schools served. According to the SCDMH, research demonstrates that providing mental health care in schools improves services and the behavior and grades of the children who see a school-based mental health counselor. A 2007 statewide satisfaction survey for school administrators revealed a remarkable 87.1 percent academic improvement, with 94.2 percent improvement in behavior. Overall, the school administrators, parents and students give favorable support for the school-based mental health programs.

The SCDMH strives to increase partnerships within the school and the community and to increase accessibility of mental health services for children and families in a nonstigmatizing environment. Early detection and intervention are essential for the prevention and/or decrease of the long-term damage to childhood mental health. Intervention for children's mental health must involve schools to help students learn effectively and to help schools accomplish their educational mission.

It is the goal of the SCDMH to provide a mental health professional in every school in South Carolina to help keep students at home, in school and out of trouble. The Cherokee Mental Health and Counseling Center also remains steadfast in providing direct support to the schools and citizens of Cherokee County to recognize the crisis related to our youth's well-being and to focus on working together to correct the external and internal barriers that interfere with the development and learning of our children and adolescents. Our youth are the future of South Carolina.