The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) invites you to join us for the 9th Annual Suicide Prevention Symposium on Tuesday, September 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. This year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative by Sharing Our Stories,” emphasizes the power of conversation and connection […]
News Releases
August 22nd, 2025
International Overdose Awareness Day: Highlighting Lifesaving Resources
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) joins communities across the state and around the world in recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, a global event that raises awareness of overdose, honors the lives lost and supports families and communities impacted. In addition, Governor Tate Reeves has declared August 31 as Overdose Awareness […]
July 31st, 2025
Block Grant State Plan Draft Available for Review
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is offering for public comment a draft State Plan for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) block grants. SAMHSA oversees two major block grants: the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Services Block Grant (SUBG). These […]
June 10th, 2025
DMH Hosts Monthly Online Crisis Response Training
A year-long series of virtual trainings designed to empower crisis workers began last month and will be continuing with monthly trainings throughout the next year. The trainings are designed to provide crisis response workers with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively respond to behavioral health crises. These monthly sessions will include: Technical Assistance: Ongoing […]
May 20th, 2025
Save the Date for the 2025 MHIDD Conference
Save the date for this year’s MHIDD Conference! The planning committee is now accepting calls for presentations and for the poster session. Find those submission documents in the link below. More details about speakers and the agenda will be coming as they are finalized later in the year. UPDATE: The call for posters and […]
May 12th, 2025
Department of Mental Health Recognizes May as Mental Health Month
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is May 8 The month of May is recognized each year as Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the fact that our mental health is an essential part of our overall health and wellbeing. With the national recognition of this […]
April 30th, 2025
Mississippi Joins Nation’s Leading Behavioral Health Platform, Network of Care
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is proud to announce it is joining the nation’s oldest and largest behavioral health platform. As an innovative, web-based platform provided in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the Network of Care for Behavioral Health will provide critical support and access to behavioral health […]
April 15th, 2025
Real Hope – Monthly Stories of Hope, Recovery, and Resiliency
In Real Hope, we’re hearing from the people who are living their lives with recovery and resiliency, as well as the practitioners and advocates in Mississippi’s mental health system who are helping make that happen. Take a few minutes and hear from Mississippians who may have struggled, but are now realizing their potential. It’s real […]
April 14th, 2025
Breaking the Cycle: Mississippi Expands Mental Health Support for Women in Prisons
The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), pictured above, was established in 1986 and built on 171 acres in Pearl in Rankin County. The pilot for the Mississippi Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant will operate at CMCF and Delta Correctional Facility, which is located in Greenwood, MS.
March 31st, 2025
DMH Receives Notice of SAMHSA Covid Grant Cancellations
DMH received notice on March 24, 2025 that SAMHSA-provided COVID grants available to the state during FY25 were being discontinued immediately. The total amount of these grants that was available for distribution to providers during FY25 was $10,959,626. Of that, $3,424,365.23 has been reimbursed to providers as of March 24, with $7,535,260.77 remaining. These had […]
January 27th, 2025
Mental Health First Aid Training Now Available – Sign Up Today
Identify. Understand. Respond. Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges. It is a skills-based training course that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to these challenges – we generally know how to refer someone for help when they’re showing signs of a […]
October 23rd, 2024
988 and Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools Now Available
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health has released a 988 and Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools, offering a toolkit to guide conversations about this difficult topic and point Mississippians to resources available to provide hope for those impacted by suicide. In Mississippi, suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults […]
October 2nd, 2024
2024 DMH Operational Standards Now Available
The finalized version of the 2024 Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers is now available here on the DMH web site and has been published on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s web site as well. The 2024 Operational Standards will become effective […]
September 20th, 2024
New Georouting Feature for 988 Crisis Lifeline Announced, Calls Remain Confidential
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) is excited to share a major enhancement to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that will further improve access to mental health services. As of September 17, georouting is officially live for T-Mobile and Verizon U.S. wireless carriers. This new feature allows calls from help-seekers with these carriers […]
September 20th, 2024
DMH Partners with MacArthur Justice Center on Forensic Navigator Program
Thanks to a new collaboration between the Macarthur Justice Center and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH), Mississippians in local jails now have direct access to mental health resources and services. The new MacArthur Forensic Navigator Program focuses on those areas where mental health services connect to the criminal justice system. The program will […]
September 13th, 2024
Now Open: Behavioral Health Planning Council Community Feedback Survey
Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council Community Feedback Survey Because every state is different, each state can decide the best ways to use federal grant funding dedicated to helping adults and children with mental illness and substance use disorder live successfully in the community. Your answers on this survey are anonymous, and your feedback is […]
September 6th, 2024
Registration Now Open for the Suicide Prevention Virtual Symposium
Join the Mississippi Department of Mental Health in Raising Awareness for Suicide Prevention Month September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remember the lives lost to suicide,acknowledge those who experience suicidal thoughts, and recognize those who have been impacted by suicide. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness and share the message […]
August 27th, 2024
Registration Now Open for MHIDD Conference
The Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) Executive Council is excited to once again provide educational opportunities to professionals and paraprofessionals in the field of mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year’s theme is “Beyond Barriers: Innovations and Solutions for a Better Mississippi.” This conference provides us with great learning experiences, networking opportunities, […]
June 28th, 2024
Additional Public Comment Open for Proposed DMH Operational Standard Revisions
Updated Post An additional public comment period is open regarding the proposed revisions to the DMH Operational Standards. On June 21, 2024, DMH filed proposed revisions to the 2020 DMH Operational Standards with the Secretary of State’s Office, designated as System Number 27554. The public comment period for this filing ended on July 16, 2024. […]
June 19th, 2024
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Don’t miss this opportunity Make a difference in the lives of young people in our community. Sign up today by clicking the image or link! Link: CLICK HERE! What You’ll Learn: How to identify and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use in youth. Strategies to help in both crisis and non-crisis situations. […]