News Releases

Mental Health First Aid Training – Feb 2024

In 2023, the Mississippi Legislature introduced and passed House Bill 1222, known as the Mississippi Collaborative Response to Mental Health Act. Section 2 of this bill addresses collaboration between mental health practitioners and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, requiring both county and municipal law enforcement agencies to receive training in Mental Health First Aid […]

Mississippi State Hospital Forensic Services

Mississippi State Hospital is the state’s only inpatient forensic mental health service provider serving all 82 counties in the state. With limited bed capacity for many years, many people have had to wait for services. In the fall of 2024, MSH will have renovations complete on a new maximum-security facility which will provide Mississippi with: […]

988 Study Commission report

On average, one person in the United States dies by suicide every 11 minutes. In Mississippi, 421 lives were lost to suicide and 107,000 adults had thoughts of suicide in the last year. There are 431,000 adults in Mississippi who have a mental health condition and 120,000 adults who have a serious mental illness. Mental […]

Mississippi Board of Mental Health Signs Proclamation Supporting the Expansion of CCBHCs

The Mississippi Board of Mental Health signed a proclamation supporting the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in Mississippi. CCBHCs are designed to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals; with an emphasis on the provision of 24-hour crisis care, utilization of evidence-based practices, care […]

FY23 DMH Adult Mental Health Audit and Fidelity Report

Overview & Methodology DMH wants to provide hope to Mississippians by supporting a continuum of care for people with mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction, and intellectual or developmental disabilities. By inspiring hope, helping people on the road to recovery, and improving resiliency, Mississippians can succeed. To help the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH)accomplish […]

MS Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Health Council Meeting

We encourage anyone interested in services for people with mental illness to attend the MS Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Health Council meeting.The meeting will be held at Hudspeth Regional Center in the Chastain Auditorium 10am-12pm on November 2, 2023.  The meeting will also be accessible through Teams by clicking this link.

Register Today for the MH/IDD Joint Conference

You are formally invited to register for the MH/IDD Joint Conference to be held in Natchez, MS, October 25-27, 2023. The Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental (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. Please share this invitation with […]

FY23 Adult Mental Health Services Data Report Now Available

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is committed to supporting the provision of an array of adult mental health services. Over the past several years, many adult mental health services and supports have been expanded and new ones implemented, including, but not limited to, the following: ✓ Mobile Crisis Response Teams ✓ Crisis Residential Services […]

Statement on Ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

For more than a decade, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) has focused heavily on the availability of community services, including those services that provide intensive services in the community and divert people from the need for inpatient services at a state hospital. We continue to be dedicated to enhancing community services in Mississippi […]

DMH Seeks Input on CCBHC Planning Grant Community Needs Assessment

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is planning to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in the state, and we need your input! A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) is a specially-designated clinic that provides a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services. CCBHCs serve anyone who walks through the door, regardless of […]

Combined Block Grant Application Now Available for Public Comment

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is offering for public comment a Combined Block Grant Application 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). […]

Summer 2023 Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Dates for Educators Announced

DMH has announced a series of Youth Mental Health First Aid training dates for Mississippi educators taking place throughout summer 2023. Teachers, coaches, school resources officers, bus drivers, other school staff, caregivers and any others who regularly interact with youth – these trainings can help you identify common signs and symptoms of mental health and […]

Bureau of Behavioral Health Request for Funding Applications Now Available

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is now accepting applications for series of competitive grants made available through funding appropriated to the agency. Each Request for Funding Application (RFA) is available as a PDF linked below. Only DMH Certified Providers are eligible to apply for the posted RFA opportunities. General questions may be sent to […]

Postpartum Wellness Summit Scheduled for Thursday, May 4

Join DMH, the Mississippi Public Health Institute, and the Mississippi State Department of Health for the 2023 Postpartum Wellness Summit: Beyond the Baby Blues. Scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., this event will be held at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, 1281 US-51 Madison, MS 39210. It is available at […]

Mississippi Selected for $1 Million Planning Grant to Implement Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Mississippi is one of 15 states that has received a $1 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grant that aims to transform mental health and substance use treatment across the country by providing sustainable funding for robust community treatment services. A CCBHC is required to provide an array of behavioral health services and […]

Joint Mental Health/IDD Conference is October 25-27

Professionals serving in the public mental health system should mark their calendars for October 25-27, when the Annual MH/IDD Joint Conference returns to Natchez for three days of presentations and keynote speakers with the theme of “Beyond 2023: Shaping the Future.” Proposals for poster presentations and speaker presentations are currently being accepted. The deadline has […]

FY22 Suicide Prevention Plan Progress Report Now Available

The Mississippi Suicide Prevention Plan FY22 Progress Report is now available, providing updates on the work that has taken place from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The Suicide Prevention Workgroup includes members from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Community Mental Health […]

Suicide Prevention Month Ends, But Awareness Should Last All Year Long

The month of September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize the warning signs and symptoms that indicate someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, and a time to spread the message of hope that things can and do get better and no one should hesitate to speak up and seek help for […]

FY22 Remedial Order Data Report Now Available

In September 2021, the Honorable Judge Carlton Reeves issued a Final Judgement and Remedial Order in the case of United States of America v. State of Mississippi (Cause No. 3:16-CV-622-CWR-FKB).  Paragraph 24 of the Remedial Order states that beginning with the end of Fiscal Year 2022, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) will post […]

988 Study Commission to meet August 30

The first meeting of the Study Commission on the 988 Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response System will be held Tuesday, August 30 at 10 a.m., as a virtual meeting conducted through GoToMeeting. The meeting will be publicly accessible through the following link: https://meet.goto.com/900890549. The Study Commission was created as a result of HB 732 during […]