Pearl River County to move into Region 12 for mental health services

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors, the board made a decision about the future alignment of mental health services for the county.

Recently, the Pearl River County was notified of the financial problems with Gulf Coast Mental Health (GCMH) and at that time began the process of exploring options for the best solution for the services provided by the county in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Health.

GCMH is the designated administrator for mental health services in Region 13 (Pearl River, Hancock, Harrison, and Stone counties). Region 12 is administered by Pine Belt Mental Health Resources and would provide alignment of the 10th chancery courts and four of the five counties in the Chancery Court district are currently in Pine Belt with Pearl River being the only county in a different region.

County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin has previously stated that the Chancery Court, which by statue controls mental health, would like to be with Pine Belt because the way Pine Belt and GCMH handle the cases is much different and being with Pine Belt it would also create a more cohesive environment.

The designated community health centers across Mississippi are the primary service providers of outpatient community-based services in the state to adults and children with mental illness, substance use, and intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

The board voted unanimously to move forward and join Pine Belt in Region 12. The move should be finalized on or around October 1, 2019 according to the board members.