The Crisis Intervention Center on West Drive in Laurel will celebrate five years in operation on Monday, Nov. 30.

The CIC opened as a satellite operation of South Mississippi State Hospital in Purvis, accepting the first patient on Sept. 20, 2004. Grand opening and dedication ceremonies were held Nov. 18, 2004. The center was named for Mr. Robert Landrum, who was an integral part in locating the SMSH Crisis Intervention Center in Laurel. He has been an advocate and champion in supporting the needs of the mentally ill.

“His long-standing, tremendous support enables us to ensure the best possible care for our citizens with mental illness,” said Dr. Randy Hendrix, who was, at the time, serving as Mississippi Department of Mental Health Executive Director.

South Mississippi State Hospital in Purvis is an acute-care, regional psychiatric facility with the primary purpose to offer a continuum of services for adults with mental illness within the patient’s region of residence. This close proximity allows family, friends and community to more actively support the treatment, recovery and aftercare of the patient. South Mississippi State Hospital serves Lamar, Forrest, Marion, Perry, Greene, Wayne, Jones, Covington and Jefferson Davis counties.

Patients receive the highest quality care available through the services of an interdisciplinary treatment team, led by a board certified psychiatrist. Treatment teams are composed of a wide range of healthcare professionals, including a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, active treatment technician, registered dietitian, recreational therapist and licensed representatives from social and psychological services. Emphasis is placed on a total continuum of care, including pre-admission, inpatient, aftercare and crisis intervention. It is the goal of SMSH to be a part of the mental healthcare system for patients and to work cooperatively with other service providers in positively influencing outcomes and the overall care of our patients.

The Crisis Intervention Center is a 16-bed unit in Laurel that also provides stabilization and treatment to adults in need of psychiatric care. Some individuals can be treated in the center and returned to the community without court commitment. Early intervention provides a higher likelihood of improvement in the patient's condition. Admission to the CIC is scheduled through the census management department at South Mississippi State Hospital upon referral or commitment. The CIC is now undergoing a program redesign, which will allow our citizens to access treatment more readily.

The five-year celebration will focus on employees, several of whom have worked at the facility since its opening. The staff is planning a cookout and will plant seven crepe myrtle trees on the Laurel campus. The seven trees represent the seven values both the Purvis and Laurel facilities operate under. They are: Communication, Compassion, Education, Professionalism, Respect, Teamwork and Trust.

DeVon Byrd, a psychologist at the Purvis campus, designed a new logo for the hospital in Summer 2008, that included a stand of crepe myrtles similar to those found at SMSH. The Laurel planting was planned at that time to make the logo representative of both campuses.

Clint Ashley has served as director of the Crisis Intervention Center since its opening. Ashley is a Covington County resident and formerly served as the Risk Management and Security Director on the SMSH campus in Purvis.

Community members who serve on the Friends of South Mississippi State Hospital board of directors will be invited to the cookout and tree planting. Friends of SMSH is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting understanding of mental health and the needs of individuals with mental illness, improving the quality of life for patients, and providing recognition and support for employees of the hospital. Membership is made up of individuals from the hospital staff, members of civic and service groups, and individuals from the community. Anyone who is interested in serving as an advocate for individuals with mental illness can be a member.

Mental health matters to every individual in every community. Mental health and mental illness matter to our healthcare system, our businesses and our families. One in five Americans experiences a serious emotional disturbance or mental illness each year. Mental illness is more prevalent than cancer, lung disease and heart disease combined, leading the U.S. Surgeon General to declare mental illness one of our nation’s leading public health issues. Senseless barriers such as stigma, misunderstanding, and discrimination can be torn down by recognizing that mental illnesses are real and treatable.