HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Horry County Government continues to develop a new Behavioral Services department to support the area's existing mental health programs.

The department won't provide its own services, but rather support and coordinate the numerous behavioral health programs already existing around Horry County.

"We're going to be advocating for them, and clearing the way for them to do what they need to do to continue saving lives," says department director Michelle Smith. "Allowing community members to make the decisions to change their own lives."

The creation of the department comes after the South Carolina Opioid Remediation Planning Program recommended that Horry County Government and the cities of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway coordinate their efforts to respond to issues like mental health and drug addiction.

Smith stated that when state opioid settlement funds became available to the area, many new behavioral health initiatives were formed quickly -- but now, many of them need support to sustain their services.

She also says some entities, like first responders utilizing crisis intervention, are seeing issues navigating the system, and that the behavioral services department will help them administer their services so they can focus on their main goals -- saving lives.

In addition to coordinating behavioral health services, the department will also work to bring more community awareness to the services that are available.

The department is still in the very early stages of development.

Smith and Horry County Government spokesperson Thomas Bell mentioned that the department is still working to build partnerships with community services.