Who This Page Is For
School counselors, nurses, social workers and administrators sometimes learn that a parent or guardian is struggling, or that a colleague needs care. This page is about the adults in a school community. It does not describe care for students.
You do not need to choose a practice; we route each referral to the right one.
Signs Worth a Conversation
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes depression as more than ordinary sadness. Symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest, poor sleep, low energy and trouble concentrating last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. NIMH says depression is treatable and suggests a health care provider as a good first contact.
After a frightening event touches a school community, NIMH notes that strong reactions are common and usually ease with time, and it suggests professional help when they last or start to interfere with daily life.
Care for Adults Through Hope Health Network
Hope Medical Associates provides primary care, including care for diabetes, hypertension and COPD, the Medicare yearly wellness visit, and help establishing a primary care provider after a hospital stay.
Hope Behavioral Medicine provides psychiatric medication management and counseling for adults with anxiety, depression, ADHD, insomnia, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder and postpartum depression, in person in West Ashley and by video.
Hope Addiction Medicine provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Treatment typically begins with an in-person assessment, followed by weekly in-person or virtual visits before moving to a monthly schedule, and each plan is tailored to the patient.
Hope Integrative Medicine offers primary care, mental health and addiction medicine with one coordinating team, for patients who want all their care coordinated.
Mental health care is available by video anywhere in South Carolina.
How to Refer
A parent or staff member can call for themselves, or you can refer them with their permission. Call and ask for referral intake, fax referral documentation, or use the online form on our referral page. The form gathers contact and routing details only, so send clinical notes by fax.
We typically contact the patient within two business days of a faxed referral, and initial evaluations are often able to be scheduled within a week of the request. If the patient needs to be seen sooner, call us.
Our practices accept Medicare, most major commercial plans, and all South Carolina Medicaid managed care plans except Select Health (First Choice). Self-pay rates are also available.
Warning Signs That Need Help Now
NIMH lists warning signs of suicide that include talking about wanting to die or being a burden, feeling hopeless or trapped, withdrawing from people, giving away important things, and using alcohol or drugs more often. NIMH urges getting help as soon as possible.
Our practices are not an emergency service, and the referral form is not monitored for emergencies. For someone in crisis, call or text 988, and in immediate danger, call 911.