Telepsychiatry
Access to Care for Everyone
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) Office of Mental Health is the largest provider of telepsychiatry, and telehealth, services in the State. Services are available 18 hours per day.
The Programs provide approximately 2,000 psychiatric services per month.
Our Telepsychiatry Programs
SCDMH’s psychiatrists collaborate with the hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) to assess and treat psychiatric patients in the EDs. Our ED telepsych programs offer critical support to help ensure patients are receiving the best care possible.
Built on the success of the ED telepsychiatry program, the Community Telepsychiatry Program (CTP) started in response to the need for full spectrum community mental health services in rural areas across the state.
SCDMH also partners with inpatient psychiatric hospitals to provide consultations for patients from specialists and experts who are not available on-site.
For those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use sign language to communicate, video communication is an integral part of everyday life. Whether it be using a Video Relay Interpreter to make a phone call or using a video messaging app to deliver a
message, The Deaf Services Program at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health offers telepsych services to meet the needs of patients who want direct communication with their doctor or counselors.
October 7, 2018, the DMH Telepsychiatry Program delivered its 100,000th psychiatric service rendered via telehealth!
SCDMH’s Telepsychiatry Programs now comprise the Deaf Services Telepsychiatry Program, Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Program, Community Telepsychiatry Program, EMS Telehealth Pilot Project, and Inpatient Services Telepsychiatry Program.
Future plans for DMH’s Telepsychiatry Programs include: continued expansion of the Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Program, continued expansion of the Inpatient Services Telepsychiatry Program, alignment of services with primary care providers Implementation of a telepsychiatry component into the SCDMH School Mental Health Program, and continued recruitment of ED telepsychiatrists Deployment of physician extenders to provide telehealth services.
Central Office Telepsychiatry Program
Phone Number: (803) 898-8410
Do you need help?
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, contact our 24/7/365 Statewide Crisis Response dispatcher
1-833-364-2274 or call 911
Connect With Us
Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Helpful Links
Do you have a complaint regarding services being provided to a child by a state agency? Please submit your complaint to the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy by phone (1-800-206-1957) or via the electronic submission form.
Notices
Language assistance services are available to you free of charge by calling 1-805-360-3326. Please enter Pin #: 81767494 and be prepared to state your language.
Los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles sin cargo llamando al 1-805-360-3326. Por favor, ingrese su número de pin 81767494 y prepárese para decir su idioma.
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