Department of Human Services
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2002
For More Information: Kim Malsam Rysdon, (605) 773-5991

May is Mental Health Month

Mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being. It is estimated that one in five American adults and children are affected by mental illness. In South Dakota, the state Division of Mental Health served over 6,000 individuals (children and adults) through community mental health centers in fiscal year 2001.

"Mental health is as critical to your well being as your physical health," according to the director of the Division of Mental Health, Kim Malsam-Rysdon. "There is effective treatment available for individuals with mental health problems and a person should not be deterred by the stigma from seeking the help that they need," Rysdon said.

Mental health problems do not discriminate. It knows no race, creed, age limit or economic status. People with mental illness can recover and lead full, productive lives. Recovery from mental illness is a complex and highly individual process. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent people from seeking or receiving appropriate care.

The state Division of Mental Health serves South Dakotans through the purchase of services with 11 non-profit community mental health centers. Through these centers a comprehensive array of services are provided to children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI). 

Some of the programs provided through these centers include:

• The Children’s SED Program. An intensive and comprehensive, child-centered, family-focused, community-based, individualized system of care, which delivers mental health services to children with serious emotional disturbances. The Division of Mental Health served 3,366 children through this program in FY2001. The SED program provides children with individualized services in accordance with the unique needs and potentials of each child. The parents, families and surrogate families of children with SED are full participants in all aspects of the evaluation, planning, and delivery of SED services. The goal of these services is to ensure that children with SED are able to live with their families and in their home community, whenever possible.   
• The CARE (Continuous Assistance, Rehabilitation and Education) Program served 3,026 individuals in FY2001. Aimed at helping people with severe and persistent mental illnesses live successfully in the community. Services stress integration in normal community settings and are responsive to cultural differences and special needs.  
• The IMPACT (Individualized and Mobile Program of Assertive Community Treatment) Program. Similar to the CARE Program in that it offers services to adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The Division of Mental Health served 81 through this program and the Human Services Center served 52 in FY2001. This program, however, offers more intensive services designed for consumers who have historically failed in community settings and who have had frequent hospitalizations. 

Community Mental Health Centers in South Dakota are:

Behavior Management Systems (BMS) in Rapid City, serves the western third of South Dakota. The counties included in the BMS catchment area include Bennett, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Harding, Jackson, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, and Shannon counties. BMS services include IMPACT – West, which is the Individualized and Mobile Program of Assertive Community Treatment.

Capital Area Counseling Services, Inc. (CACS) is located in Pierre and serves central South Dakota. The counties that CACS covers are Buffalo, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jones, Lyman, Stanley, and Sully. 

Community Counseling Services, Inc., (CCS) is located in east central South Dakota in Huron and covers a six county area, including Beadle, Hand, Jerauld, Lake, Miner, and Moody. CCS services include an IMPACT Program.

Dakota Mental Health Center (DMHC), Mitchell, serves a five county catchment area including Aurora, Brule, Davison, Hanson, and Sanborn counties. 

East Central Mental Health/Chemical Dependency Center, Inc. (ECMH/CD) is located in Brookings, and serves Brookings County in east central South Dakota. 

Human Service Agency (HSA) in Watertown, in the east central part of South Dakota, serves a seven county area. These counties include Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Kingsbury, and Roberts. HSA also operates Serenity Hills, a residential program that serves individuals with co-occurring mental health and chemical dependency issues.

Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS), located in Yankton, in the extreme southeast portion of the State, provides services in seven counties including Bon Homme, Charles Mix, Clay, Douglas, Hutchinson, Union, and Yankton. 

Northeastern Mental Health Center (NEMHC) in Aberdeen is located in the north central and northeast part of the State. It covers a large 10 county area, including Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson, Potter, Spink, and Walworth counties. 

Southeastern Behavioral HealthCare (SBHC) is located in Sioux Falls, in the southeastern part of the State. Counties included in the SBHC service area are McCook, Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Turner. SEBHC services include an IMPACT Program.

Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services (SPBHS) in Winner, is located in rural south central South Dakota. It covers the counties of Gregory, Melette, Todd, and Tripp. 

Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center (TRMHCDC), is located in Lemmon, in the northwestern corner of South Dakota. This agency provides services in four counties: Corson, Dewey, Perkins, and Ziebach. 

For individuals requiring inpatient care the Human Services Center in Yankton offers inpatient treatment such as psychiatric treatment services, chemical dependency treatment, and community support services. The Human Services Center had 1,714 admissions in FY2001. The Human Services Center can be contacted by calling 1(605) 668-3100 or visit on line at www.state.sd.us/dhs/mcn. 

For more information about mental health services available contact the Division of Mental Health at 1(605) 773-5991 or toll free at 1(800) 265-9684 or visit online at www.state.sd.us/dhs/dmh. For additional resource information on this subject visit the National Mental Health Association at www.nmha.org, the Center for Mental Health Services at www.mentalhealth.org, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at www.aacap.org, or the American Psychological Association at www.apa.org. 

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