From the Desk of Deborah Blalock, CDMHC Executive Director
In 1997 Esther Hennessee was hired as a school-based counselor, but is currently the director of CDMHC’s Special Operations Division. What does that mean exactly? Esther oversees all of the innovative, creative, almost one of a kind programs that CDMHC is known for such as Mobile Crisis, The Psychiatric Urgent Care, the Highway to Hope RV Project, Mental Health Court, Detention Center Services, DJJ Services, Low country Children’s Center Services, and 3 ACT-Like Teams. Until it officially ended, she was also over Charleston’s COSIG project. Yes, she certainly does have her hands full!
To be in this type of position, a person has to be incredibly flexible, approachable, diplomatic, energetic, and very, very knowledgeable about the SCDMH system, as well as numerous other systems that intersect with SCDMH. Esther fits this unique description to a “T!” On a daily basis she has to work side by side with judges, cops, and private hospital staff as well as clients and their families. She sees them when they are in crisis, in need of guidance and safe resolution. She has to balance client needs with center needs and community needs being ever mindful of community safety.
Esther has earned the trust of countless individuals in the Charleston community – everyone from individuals barricaded in trailers to law enforcement across the area. Ask almost any cop in Charleston about the MHC, and they’ll surely be singing Esther’s praises at some point in the conversation. It isn’t uncommon for a police chief or a sheriff to call Esther directly for her to evaluate one of their officers who is in need of a crisis intervention – yes, that is how much they trust her.
COSIG taught her how to help those with co-occurring disorders find the path to recovery. As a result of the COSIG project, Esther trains other staff on the needs of those diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. Esther exudes empathy to those clients that in the past were ping-ponged back and forth between our system and DAODAS. She exemplifies the “no-wrong door” concept of COSIG. If you show up on any of Esther’s “doorsteps,” you will get the help you need when you need it. She has ensured that the staff in her line of report have embraced those very same concepts. They do whatever it takes to get someone the help that is needed. They have a motto that speaks for itself – “if you have a need, we have the speed.”
Nope, she is not perfect, nor a saint. Because of her passion for the work she does, she can be accused of “beating a dead horse” when it comes to her frustration with some of the barriers inherent in a giant bureaucracy. She is not fond of the hoops that she occasionally has to jump through to get something worthwhile accomplished, and she is known to express her displeasure. Her passion is fiery, and has been known to burn those who get try to stop her from meeting the needs of those we serve.
Esther is the one you want fighting for our mission, for our cause. She cares about what happens to people, and she doesn’t sleep until folks are safe. Esther takes call with Mobile Crisis for about 2 weeks a month, every month, for the past 7 years…can you imagine? Now, that is dedication! While the rest of us are sleeping, she is finding a hospital bed for someone in need, or helping a parent understand the needs of her newly diagnosed 19 year old son. Esther is there for the classmates and teachers of a student who has lost his fight against depression and has committed suicide.
She is also a trained Crisis negotiator and responds to critical incidents with law enforcement. Cops depend upon her to help them safely resolve potentially explosive situations….and she does. I’ve seen her work her magic on the top of the Ravenell Bridge as she “talked” down a desperate young woman who wanted to end her own life. To watch her on a critical incident would make anyone associated with SCDMH proud. She is focused, caring, professional, and most importantly, effective.
Esther also is frequently called upon to train law enforcement about mental health issues. She does such an outstanding job that this year she was asked to deliver a 40 hour crisis negotiation training to about 20 cops from multiple local jurisdictions. She also trains with those same officers and about 20 more monthly on issues facing crisis negotiators.
Esther’s collective efforts have resulted in more knowledgeable law enforcement safely and successfully working folks in psychiatric crisis. Her efforts are so appreciated by law enforcement, that the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office presented her with an award for all of her efforts. How many mental health staff can say the same?
Esther’s contributions have made Charleston and Dorchester Counties a better place to live. She has made them a safer place to live. Esther is the one you want representing the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and all that we stand for in fight for the recovery of those we serve.
