GAMECOCK
The CONnection News and Views from the University of South Carolina COLLEGE OF NURSING
JUNE 2015
USC Nursing: The New Foot Soldiers in Mental Health in SC The mental health statistics in our state are alarming! Approximately one in five South Carolinian’s suffer from “any” mental illness each year. Further, there are over 200,000 adults and 60,000 children diagnosed with a “serious mental illness” in our state each year. As the mental health needs continue to rise, mental healthcare resources have been cut and/or are diminishing for our friends, family members, and citizens of the state. There are now 17 counties in South Carolina currently without a specialized mental health provider.
Dean Jeannette Andrews
Inside This Issue Students Corner..............2 Alumni & Development...3 Faculty & Staff Notes.....4-5 NO LIMITS........................6
Send Inquiries or Newsletter items to: Jan Johnson jnjohnso@mailbox.sc.edu
For the past year and a half, we have been gearing up to impact this most significant health need in our state and the Southeastern US region. Championed by Dr. Tena Hunt McKinney, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program director, along with Dr. Stephanie Burgess, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program director, and Dr. Kathrene Berger, meetings have been held with individuals, organizations, and our stakeholder advisory board to guide our newly re-visioned PMHNP program. We are strategically positioning to recruit and train nurses from all across our state, especially from underserved counties, with the goal of increasing mental healthcare access by a competently trained mental health provider. Not only will we train Master’s and Doctoral prepared nurse practitioners in the direct provision of mental health care, we are working with our colleagues in the School of Medicine and the Department of Mental Health to train our graduates in telehealth as a means to increase access for all patients. Our first cohort of students with this newly re-visioned and innovative program begins in August, with the initial impact of these new providers being realized as soon as two to three years. We wish to thank the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, SC Department of Mental Health, Carolinas Health System, SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, SC Department of Health and Human Services, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers, Palmetto Health, Greenville Health System, and others for their support and partnership with this joint effort. As with all of our initiatives in the College of Nursing, we have the vision, strategy, and partners to march forward to impact health outcomes and quality of life for all South Carolinians. Stay tuned to hear about our other new initiatives over the next few months. Jeannette O. Andrews PhD, RN, FAAN Dean & Professor j.andrews@sc.edu
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