How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in South Carolina
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they are often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
On This Page
- When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
- Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in South Carolina?
- How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in South Carolina?
- Region A (Midlands) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region B (Upstate) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region C (Pee Dee) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region D (Coastal) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- How Does South Carolina's Public Mental Health System Work?
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health systems, including South Carolina’s, have crisis response systems that can help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer state or local crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
In general, community mental health centers (CMHCs) serve as alternative outpatient providers for people who lack the means to access outpatient mental health services in the private sector. In addition to offering affordable care, South Carolina CMHCs and clinics provide specialized and intensive services that either aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics. These include services that help people with severe mental health conditions maintain a good quality of life in the community, such as case management and psychosocial rehabilitation.
For people who only need counseling, South Carolina CMHCs offer counseling services to anyone who has a mental health condition and who could potentially benefit from counseling. Availability of counseling and other services depends on each CMHC’s funding and staff at any given time.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in South Carolina?
South Carolina’s CMHCs do not have restrictive clinical eligibility criteria and are open to anyone who needs treatment for a mental health condition. Most South Carolina CMHCs accept private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. They also offer sliding-fee scales for people who do not have insurance.
People who are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare will need to use private insurance or pay out of pocket for CMHC services. South Carolina did not accept Medicaid expansion, so it is not possible to get Medicaid as a childless adult in South Carolina unless you have a disability. South Carolina does not have any state funding assistance programs other than Medicaid for people who need mental health care but does offer counseling for reduced fees at many state-licensed clinics and CMHCs. To find out how fees at your local CMHC compare to fees for private providers, you can call your local CMHC and ask what they charge.
While general access to public mental health care is not restricted in South Carolina, some specific state mental health services do have restrictive eligibility criteria. Only people who have a severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), or a mental health condition that impacts their level of functioning and puts them at risk of hospitalization, are eligible for case management in South Carolina. The only insurance plan that covers this service is Medicaid.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in South Carolina?
The best way to find out about your local CMHC or clinic in South Carolina is to call the program directly. You can also call the main number for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) at (803) 898-8581 or call the statewide crisis response line at (833) 364-2274. Some CMHCs have their own crisis lines, but the statewide crisis line works for all locations.
To find out which CMHCs and clinics serve your area, you can use one of the following directories or search tools on the SCDMH website:
- The Contact SCDMH page provides up-to-date contact information for SCDMH.
- You can find links to each CMHC’s webpage on SCDMH’s Mental Health Centers page.
- The SCDMH Mental Health Centers and Clinics Directory lists the phone number and address for each CMHC as well as what counties each facility serves.
- You can review a full listing of all CMHCs and satellite offices on this directory page.
- The SCDMH County Map shows the service area for each South Carolina CMHC.
- You can use the Locate a Clinic page to search for clinics or CMHCs using your zip code and get driving directions to the facility you choose.
For your convenience, you can also find contact information for all of the South Carolina CMHCs and affiliate clinics below.
Region A (Midlands) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center (Aiken)
- Serving Aiken and Barnwell Counties
- Main Number: (803) 641-7700 (24 hours)
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Hartzog Center North Augusta Clinic (North Augusta): (803) 278-0880
- Polly Best Center – Barnwell Clinic (Barnwell): (803) 259-7170
- Child, Adolescent, and Family Services (Aiken): (803) 641-7700
- Columbia Area Mental Health Center (Columbia)
- Serving Richland and Fairfield Counties
- Main Number: (803) 898-4800
- Admissions and Intake: (803) 898-8888
- Adult Clinic Services: (803) 898-0123
- Daytime Crisis Line: (803) 898-8888
- After-Hours Crisis Line: (833) 364-2274
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: (803) 898-1555
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Fairfield County Clinic – Dayspring (Winnsboro): (803) 737-3039 or (803) 635-4689
- New Horizons Lower Richland Clinic (Columbia): (803) 783-0303
- Child, Adolescent, and Family Services (Columbia): (803) 898-4777
- Lexington County Community Mental Health Center (Lexington)
- Serving Lexington County
- Main Number: (803) 996-1500
- Lexington Adult Services: (803) 359-3545
- Lexington Emergency Services: (803) 359-3545
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Batesburg-Leesville Clinic (Batesburg): (803) 532-8414
- Swansea-Gaston Clinic (Swansea): (803) 755-2261
- Lexington Adult Clinic (Lexington): (803) 359-3545
- Child, Adolescent, and Family Services (Lexington): (803) 359-7206
- Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center (Orangeburg)
- Serving Bamberg, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties
- Main Number: (803) 536-1571
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Bamberg County Clinic (Denmark): (803) 793-4274
- Calhoun County Clinic (Saint Matthews): (803) 874-2301
- Orangeburg County Clinic (Holly Hill): (803) 496-3410
Region B (Upstate) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Center (Anderson)
- Serving Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties
- Main Number: (864) 260-2220
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Oconee Clinic (Seneca): (864) 885-0157
- Pickens Clinic (Easley): (864) 878-6830
- E. Pascoe Child and Adolescent Center (Anderson): (864) 716-2316
- Beckman Center for Mental Health Services (Greenwood)
- Serving Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda Counties
- Main Number: (864) 229-7120 (24 hours)
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Abbeville Mental Health Clinic (Abbeville): (864) 459-9671
- Edgefield Mental Health Center (Edgefield): (803) 637-5788
- Greenwood Mental Health Clinic (Greenwood): (864) 223-8331
- Laurens Mental Health Center (Clinton): (864) 938-0912
- McCormick Mental Health Center (North McCormick): (864) 465-2412
- Newberry Mental Health Clinic (Newberry): (803) 276-8000 (Serving Saluda County)
- Greater Greenville Mental Health Center (Greenville)
- Serving Greenville County
- Main Number: (864) 241-1040
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Simpsonville Mental Health Clinic (Simpsonville): (864) 963-3421
- Greer Mental Health Clinic (Greer): (864) 879-2111
- Greenville Clinic (Greenville): (864) 241-1040
- Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center (Spartanburg)
- Serving Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties
- Main Number: (864) 585-0366
- Spartanburg Crisis Line: (864) 585-0366
- Cherokee and Union Crisis Line: (800) 277-1366
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Spartanburg Mental Health Clinic (Spartanburg): (864) 585-0366
- Cherokee Mental Health Clinic (Gaffney): (864) 487-2710
- Union Mental Health Clinic (Union): (864) 427-1224
Region C (Pee Dee) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Catawba Community Mental Health Center (Rock Hill)
- Serving York, Chester, and Lancaster Counties
- Main Number: (803) 328-9600 or (800) 475-1978
- Affiliated Clinics:
- York Adult Services (Rock Hill): (803) 327-2012
- Catawba Family Center (Rock Hill): (803) 329-3177
- Chester Clinic (Chester): (803) 581-8311
- Lancaster Clinic (Lancaster): (803) 285-7456
- Pee Dee Mental Health Center (Florence) (843) 317-4073
- Serving Darlington, Florence, and Marion Counties
- Main Number: (843) 317-4073
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Darlington County Clinic (Hartsville): (843) 332-4141
- Florence County Clinic (Florence): (843) 317-4073
- Lake City Clinic (Lake City): (843) 394-7600 or (843) 661-4882
- Marion County Clinic (Marion): (843) 431-1100
- Children, Adolescent, and Family Services (Florence): (843) 317-4081
- Santee-Wateree Mental Health Center (Sumter)
- Serving Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter Counties
- Main Number: (803) 934-4108 or (803) 934-4109
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Sumter County Clinic (Sumter): (803) 775-9364
- Clarendon County Clinic (Manning): (803) 435-2124
- Kershaw County Clinic (Camden): (803) 432-5323
- Lee County Clinic (Bishopville): (803) 484-9414
- Santee-Wateree Mental Health Center (Sumter): (803) 775-9364
- Santee-Wateree Child, Adolescent, and Family Services (Sumter): (803) 775-7898
- Tri-County Community Mental Health Center (Bennettsville)
- Serving Chesterfield, Dillon, and Marlboro Counties
- Main Number: (843) 454-0841
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Marlboro Clinic (Bennettsville): (843) 454-0442
- Chesterfield Clinic (Chesterfield): (843) 623-2229
- Dillon Clinic (Dillon): (843) 774-3351
Region D (Coastal) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Berkeley Community Mental Health Center (Moncks Corner)
- Serving Berkeley County
- Main Number: (843) 761-8282 or (888) 202-1381
- Charleston-Dorchester Mental Health Center (Charleston)
- Serving Charleston and Dorchester Counties
- Main Number: (843) 852-4100
- Crisis Line: (843) 414-2350
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Charleston Mental Health Clinic (Charleston): (843) 852-4100
- Dorchester Mental Health Clinic (Summerville): (843) 873-5063
- Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center (Beaufort)
- Serving Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties
- Main Number: (843) 524-8899
- Crisis Line: (800) 922-7844
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Allendale County Mental Health Clinic (Allendale): (803) 584-4636
- Beaufort Mental Health Clinic (Beaufort): (843) 524-3378
- Colleton County Mental Health Clinic (Walterboro): (843) 549-1551
- Hampton County Mental Health Clinic (Varnville): (803) 943-2828
- Hilton Head Mental Health Clinic (Hilton Head Island): (843) 681-4865
- Jasper County Mental Health Clinic (Ridgeland): (843) 726-8030
- Waccamaw Center for Mental Health (Conway)
- Serving Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg Counties
- Main Number: (843) 347-5060 or (843) 347-4888
- Affiliated Clinics:
- Georgetown County Clinic (Georgetown): (843) 546-6107
- South Strand Clinic (Myrtle Beach): (843) 492-2795
- Horry County Clinic (Conway): (843) 347-4888
- Williamsburg County Clinic (Kingstree): (843) 354-5453
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in South Carolina. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does South Carolina's Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period.
South Carolina was ahead of the curve. An innovator in the Southeast, South Carolina recognized the mental health needs of its citizens as far back as the 1700s and became the second state to establish publicly-funded mental health treatment in 1821. It built its first community-based outpatient mental health clinics in the 1920s and passed its own community mental health law in 1952, more than a decade before President John F. Kennedy signed the federal Community Mental Health Act in 1963.
Like many states, South Carolina fell behind in maintaining community mental health services after 1981, when federal laws moved mental health funding to a block grant system, and again in 2008 after the national recession. However, South Carolina has continued to innovate and has come up with creative solutions to address issues like the increasing use of hospital emergency departments for mental health services and the shrinking number of psychiatrists in the workforce. It established its successful emergency telepsychiatry program in 2007, which has made emergency mental health screenings more efficient and accessible across the state.
Mental health services in South Carolina are currently managed on the state and regional levels. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health (DMH) oversees the state’s regional mental health centers and inpatient facilities and also runs the state mental health crisis line. Licensed CMHCs and clinics are operated locally but administered centrally by DMH. The state system’s mission is to provide mental health services to anyone who needs treatment for a mental health condition, regardless of their ability to pay.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 44.5 percent of people in South Carolina who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care in South Carolina, including CMHCs and public clinics. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using local mental health resources to get the care you need.