State of Mental Health

One in five families in the United States battle mental illness.

Unfortunately the agencies that help with counseling, crisis management and placement are having trouble meeting the demands because of a lack of funding.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness did a study to see how different states rate on the services they offer and the funding available.

North Carolina received a "D Plus" and South Carolina received a "B Minus".

In this Seven On Your Side Medical Watch, we take a look at one facility that is like so many across the state facing cuts that could create a crisis for the agency and the people they serve.

For 24 year old Justin Gilstrap the gateway house has offered him a new life...a place to come where he can be himself and not focus on his bipolar and sociodefective disorders.

Gilstrap says, "A lot of depression and no reason to get up in the morning it is hard when you have nothing to do because of your illness."

Gateway House and other facilities across South Carolina will have trouble providing help for people like Justin suffering from a severe mental illness. That's because the South Carolina Senate has slashed three hundred thousand dollars out of its budget for Gateway House for next year.

Phil Emory Executive Director of Gateway House says, "In the Senate's version of the budget all of the local programs throughout the state were cut from the budget."

Phil Emory says losing funding for the facility doesn't just affect the members who come here. When they have no where to go, that can result in more emergency room visits and less beds for others who need them.

Emory says, "The state hospital was closed a few years ago and there are fewer and fewer beds available now and that's why you know patients are often in the emergency rooms waiting for a bed because there are no beds."

It can also mean the mentally ill end up in jail instead of treatment and that cost you the taxpayer more.

We took those concerns to lawmakers, State Representative Fletcher Smith says he is trying to get the money back, not just for Gateway House but for all mental health agencies.

State Representative Smith says, "The fact of the matter is state agencies will be more pressured by cuts to Gateway House, because those people if they fall through the cracks and will actually have to be wards of the state so the Senate cut its nose to spite its face in a sense."

The bad news, Representative Smith says this is a situation that is getting worse and we all need to make mental health a priority. The good news, he says there is something you can do about it.

According to Representative Smith, "The process only moves when our citizens actually participate and say that we need things."

He says the key is to make your voice heard and demand help for the mentally ill.

As for Justin, he says without programs like gateway he doesn't know where he'll end up.

Gilstrap says, "Gives me a reason to get up every morning."

Please contact your local lawmakers if you would like to see more funding for mental illness. Representative Smith says you can also contact Dan Cooper with the Ways and Means Committee. You can reach him at (803) 734-3144 or in the Upstate at (864) 260-4025.

If you would like more information on Gateway House click here