Notice
The following reference to the Code of Laws of South Carolina is for general information only. Specific circumstances and facts may require consultation with BHDD Office of Mental Health supervisory staff and/or the Office of General Counsel. The following are links to portions of the Code of Laws of South Carolina pertaining to BHDD Office of Mental Health, voluntary and involuntary (judicial commitment and emergency admission) treatment, capacity to stand trial, patient rights, sexually violent predator, etc. For a full reading of specific statutes from "South Carolina Legislature Online" follow the TITLE and CHAPTER LINKS below.
Title and Chapter Links
- TITLE 44 – HEALTH
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 9 – STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 11 – ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL OF STATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 13 – ADMISSION, DETENTION AND REMOVAL OF PATIENTS AT STATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 15 – LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, BOARDS AND CENTERS
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 17 – CARE AND COMMITMENT OF MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 22 – RIGHTS OF MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 23 – PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH MENTALLY ILL AND MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 24 – COMMITMENT OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 25 – INTERSTATE COMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 27 – PATIENTS AT FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 48 – SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR ACT
- TITLE 44 CHAPTER 52 – ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE COMMITMENT
- TITLE 17 – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
- TITLE 17 CHAPTER 24 – MENTALLY ILL OR INSANE DEFENDANTS
- TITLE 43 – SOCIAL SERVICES
- TITLE 43 CHAPTER 35 – ADULT PROTECTION
- TITLE 62 – SOUTH CAROLINA PROBATE CODE
- TITLE 62 CHAPTER 5 – PROTECTION OF PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY AND THEIR PROPERTY
Related Patient Rights & Advocacy Resources Referenced on This Page
- Mental Health Center Patient Advocates
- Hospital/Inpatient Facility Patient Advocates
- Patient Rights at a BHDD Office of Mental Health Center
- Patient Rights at a BHDD Office of Mental Health Hospital
- Independent Advocacy Organizations
- Psychiatric Advance Directive
- SC Laws that Pertain to Mental Health
- Brief History of Patient Rights
- How to File a Complaint
Crisis Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, contact our 24/7/365 Statewide Crisis Response dispatcher at 1-833-364-2274 or call 911
Mobile Crisis: 833-364-2274
Complaints Involving a Child and a State Agency
Do you have a complaint regarding services being provided to a child by a state agency? Please submit your complaint to the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy by phone (1-800-206-1957) or via the electronic submission form.
Contact Information
- Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Phone: 803.898.8581
- Email: info@scdmh.org
Notices
- Privacy Practices
- En español, la asistencia
- Nondiscrimination & Accessibility
- PATH Formula Grant
Language assistance services are available to you free of charge by calling 1-805-360-3326. Please enter Pin #: 81767494 and be prepared to state your language.
Los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles sin cargo llamando al 1-805-360-3326. Por favor, ingrese su número de pin 81767494 y prepárese para decir su idioma.
Note on completeness: This source page functions as an index/directory to statutory titles and chapters rather than reproducing the statutory text itself. The full substantive language of each cited title and chapter (e.g., commitment procedures, patient rights provisions, sexually violent predator provisions) is not contained in the original page and must be reviewed directly via the South Carolina Legislature Online links provided above. Repeated site navigation menus, search box elements, and social media links appearing in the raw extraction were removed as non-substantive noise.
General information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm against the official source before you act, or ask us how this applies to your organization.