Law change, COVID-19 prompts mental illness board to add mental health professional

A change in South Dakota law and pandemic-induced mental health crisis have led county leaders to add another professional to the team that evaluates people held on involuntary mental health commitments. 

The Lincoln and Minnehaha County joint Board of Mental Illness has added a third mental health professional to conduct evaluations on an as-needed basis to assist with the increase of evaluations. 

The Lincoln County Commission unanimously approved the addition Tuesday morning. 

The mental illness board reviews petitions for psychiatric commitments and determines whether a person thought to be experiencing mental health crisis, or considered a danger to themselves or others, should be committed to a certain facility or program for treatment. 

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A law enacted this year increased the number of times a person committed is evaluated for release. Previously, people were evaluated within 24 hours and again in five days with a hearing with the board. Now, people are evaluated within 24 hours and daily. The goal for the change was to give someone who meets the criteria to be released before the typical five-day period before the second hearing a chance to be released earlier. 

The increased daily evaluations coupled with a slight uptick in holds in recent months led the board to ask for a third person to call on an as-needed basis to help with the workload. 

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Co-chair of the board Tom Weerheim said that just on Tuesday, nine evaluations from new mental health holds and several other follow-up evaluations needed to be done. That's a lot for one person. 

"For one person to visit with all of those in one day makes it very difficult," said Weerheim, a Sioux Falls-based attorney. 

Weerheim didn't have exact numbers Tuesday on how the pandemic has impacted mental health holds, but said there was a significant drop in the onset of the pandemic and now a slight increase.

Generally, the board sees around 130 requests for mental health holds each month. The board has had up to 160 in recent months. 

The third qualified mental health professional will likely work a few hours each week and fill in where needed, Weerheim said. 

Below are a few local resources for anyone in need of mental health assistance: 

The Helpline Center has a landing page for specific needs and services or call 211.

Avera Behavioral Health: 1-800-691-4336

Department of Social Services: 605-773-3165

Email reporter Danielle Ferguson at dbferguson@argusleader.com or follow on Twitter at @DaniFergs.