Acute Adult Psychiatric & Behavioral Health Services

Lighthouse Care Center of Conway has a secure acute psychiatric unit for adults 18 to 59 years of age. Individuals admitted to this unit often present either an immediate danger to themselves in the form of a suicide attempt or have attempted or made threats of bodily harm toward someone else. In some cases, it may be that the individual states they are hearing voices telling them to hurt themselves or another person. These voices are termed “command hallucinations” and represent another reason that a person would be admitted to this unit. Additionally, anyone who exhibits a sense of paranoia as evidenced by a refusal to eat for fear that they are being poisoned or who believes that they are being watched continually by “Big Brother” or the CIA would be appropriate for this unit. Finally, someone who is experiencing dangerously impulsive behavior as a result of bipolar affective disorder would qualify for admission to the adult unit. Such an individual might drive his/her car through residential neighborhoods at a high rate of speed without concern for others or believe that they can jump from a third story window without sustaining injury. While the intention of self-harm or being a danger to others is not there, the potential of someone being hurt is great and justification for admission onto the unit exists.

• Individuals admitted on the adult acute unit typically are those who are committed against their will (involuntary commitment). In South Carolina, “White Papers” are used for emergency psychiatric admissions.
• To meet criteria for this program, the individual must have an acute exacerbation of a psychiatric illness. For an assessment and consideration for admission, call us at (843) 347-8871.
• Patients must be medically stable.