While mental health services are not as plentiful as they once were in Scotland County, they are still available, according to the area director Southeastern Regional Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

"Mental health is something that touches us all one time or another," director Sharen Prevatte, told members of the Laurinburg Rotary Club on Tuesday.

More than 50 Rotary members welcomed Prevatte to their weekly meeting at the Clinton Inn to speak about the issues regarding mental health services in Scotland County.

As CEO of SRMH, Prevatte said that many people come to her complaining that mental health services are not available in Scotland County like they used to be. She assured the audience that although these services are not provided by clinics, they are still available in Scotland County. If anyone is in need of mental health services, they should call 1-800-670-6871. After a brief screening, a medical professional will connect you to the appropriate private provider for the necessary services.

According to their website, since 1964, SRMH has served Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties "to attain positive consumer-driven, social and behavorial outcomes for persons living with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse through ethical, flexible, integrated and culturally sensitive services."

Prevatte graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in family relations and child development. She has lived locally since 1969 and noted that mental health services have taken some unusual twists and turns over the past few decades.

Prevatte said that during the 1960s, almost no private businesses were involved in administering or providing mental health care. The services then, however, were scattered throughout the county.

In 2001, according to Prevatte, legislators realized that the public only structure of the mental health services was not physically efficient. There were not enough options, and so public services needed to be vested and given to private providers. Clinics began to disappear, Prevatte noted, and the staff at SRMH was significantly reduced.

As a Local Management Entity, with a staff of 64, SRMH helps to monitor, train, and endorse private providers, implement public policy, authorize funds and hold the providers accountable, which Prevatte said was her "largest challenge known."

Prevatte explained that the LME has only one clinic located in Lumberton, and many individual private providers offering specific services are scattered throughout Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties.

A legislative act in 2001 suggested that case management be linked with one and one support, however, Prevatte pointed out, "best laid plans don't always work out."

Medicaid allows anyone to provide services is they are willing and able. What ended up happening, Prevatte said, was many providers got into the mental healthcare business having "no clue." Prevatte said this is when the problem started because providers began making a lot of money.

"The staff of Southeastern Regional, the board of Southeastern Regional, and the state as a whole are committed to get the services your county needs," Prevatte said.

In July 2010 SRMH will begin to work on a Critical Access Behavioral Health Agencies in order to offer larger facilities, which will be operated by private companies.

"We will have to try to do the very best that we can to keep the services we have and build on them," she said. "We'll get there."

Currently, SRMH has a Mobile Crisis Team, which operate in all four counties. The Mobile Crisis Team is a 24/7/365 crisis service for adults and children of all disabilities. Services provided include 24-hour physician coverage, education management, 10 adult beds, one child bed, group and individual counseling, family counseling, and relapse prevention planning.

Prevatte said that a walk-in center recently opened in Lumberton and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. professionals are available to talk to. The director also noted that SRHC plans to enter relations with some primary health care providers in order to help make psychiatrists more available.

However, Prevatte said that there are currently 24 LMEs, and the state wants to reduce that number to only 3 to 6 and develop regional LMEs to manage 12-15 counties. The county commissioners will need to discuss their plans for the next four to six years in relation to the services provided, Prevatte said.