Not having a house means not having a car means not having a way to get to a job that provides the money to rent a house which means not getting to the doctor which means not having the prescription meds that can help you stabilize your life so that you can function at work which means you have to hang out at the library, just to get warm …
You can see how it, easily, can become a downward spiral. Social-safety-net people and law enforcement officers see it every day. But, do they ever talk to each other about what they see, and experience?
In Laurens County, yes, they do.
The Laurens County Mental Health Forum, held recently at the Veterans Affairs Office, was a first step in expanding that talking-to-each-other effort facilitated by the Laurens County Prevention Coalition.
“Many people just want to have their story told,” said Jayson Santana (right), representing the Laurens County Public Library.
The librarians often come into contact with people whose education has been very limited, and that limits their employment and betterment of life. The key, Santana said, is to “remove the label” that somehow these folks are less-than others in our society. Removing that label, and joining together community efforts to lift up everyone, was a prime focus of the panel discussion and Clubhouse International presentation at the forum. In a series of 5 scenarios the panelists addressed issues ranging from transportation to affordable housing to healthcare access.
For instance, Santana pointed out that the Piedmont Agency for Aging has buses that can transport seniors to activities, but “this isolates some younger people.” So, why can’t other social service agencies replicate what Veterans Affairs has?
“We have more than 6,500 veterans logged in, we deal with pensions, compensation and medical. We have one van that transports veterans to Greenville and to Dorn” veterans medical facility, said Carey Bolt, the Laurens and Greenwood counties’ veterans coordinator.
One of the scenarios that the panelists dealt with discussed “Robert” who suffers from social isolation.
“I meet a lot of ‘Roberts’ (working at the public library),” Santana said. “We have to reduce their personal stigma.”
Sometimes that means “checking my privilege at the door,” said Charlie Stinson (above), representing Gateway Counseling, adding “I was born on 3rd base and thought I hit a triple.”
“When I need new tires, I go out and buy four. I have to remember, not everybody can do that,” he said.
Faced with the choice of a $1,000 doctor’s visit or $50 a day buying cocaine or pot, Stinson said many people will just choose the $50 a day, “because they know (drugs) can take the edge off.”
Stinson said, “This is a problem throughout our whole country – the safety nets. People self-medicate.”
Shea Bradberry, representing the United Way of Laurens County, said by the time their agencies can reach people many times they are already in crisis. She cited a need for better coordination of services.
“Just pay attention,” she said. “Learn their story.”
Laurens County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Chris Martin said he never thought he would see the day when the local jail would need to have 6 padded cells and a psychologist’s access 5 days a week. “Finding the resources is difficult” to help everyone in a county of 740 square miles, he said. Sometimes, people need resources at 2 a.m. and who gets called – law enforcement, of course, because they are “on” 24/7.
“We respond every day,” Martin said; but the uncertainty the officers face is, how a person having a breakdown who knows they are going to jail going to respond.
“We are grateful for the collaboration, we are glad to get into the jail,” said Kevin Terry, representing Laurens County Mental Health.
LCMH is affiliated with the regional Beckman Center for Mental Health Services, and statistics recently presented to that agency’s board show that contacts with the Jail Liaison in Laurens County started out at 11 in Aug. 2024, rising to 56 by the start of 2025, then increasing again to 73 in March 2025, and coming back down to 35 in June 2025.
The Laurens Mental Health Center served 1,015 residents in 2024, up from 875 in 2023, but a decrease from 1,062 in 2022.
But in 2025, that total residents served number was back up to 1,096 – total services provided in 2025 was 7,752.
Of that 1,096, children totaled 324.
In this case, for adults in the community, transportation can be a serious issue. “They have to come in,” Terry said. “If they disengage from services, we have to disengage from them.”
Discussing the importance of work, Martin said the Sheriff’s Office is proud of being one of the first agencies to engage with Disabilities & Special Needs to provide employment for a consumer.
LCMH’s Terry agreed, “‘Where do you work?’ It’s an important part of your identity.”