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 […]
News Releases
March 20th, 2023
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 […]
October 7th, 2022
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 […]
September 30th, 2022
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 […]
September 30th, 2022
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 […]
August 25th, 2022
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 […]
August 22nd, 2022
Register now for the 2022 Trauma Informed Care Conference, September 21-23
Registration is now open for the annual Mississippi Trauma-Informed Care Conference. With the theme of “Finding Hope in a Never Ending Storm,” this year’s conference will be a virtual event with seven keynotes and 26 different breakout sessions, taking place September 21 – 23, 2022. Keynotes and breakout sessions will encourage new coping strategies and […]
August 22nd, 2022
6th Annual Mississippi Suicide Prevention Symposium is September 27-28
Save the date for September 27-28, when the sixth annual Mississippi Suicide Prevention Symposium will be held as a virtual event in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the Mississippi State University Department of Psychology. Continuing education will be available. More details and registration information will be available soon at www.mississippisuicidepreventionsymposium.com. If […]
July 16th, 2022
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Launches July 16
New Number a Major Step in Transforming Crisis Care On July 16, 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will go live nationwide. In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to operate through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. By calling or texting 988, or by chatting via the Lifeline website (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/), anyone […]
July 1st, 2022
Board of Mental Health Names Leadership Roles for FY23
July 1, 2022 (Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Board of Mental Health has named new leadership roles for the state fiscal year that began July 1, 2022. Dr. Sampat Shivangi of Ridgeland has been named Chair and Stewart Rutledge of Oxford has been named Vice Chair. Shivangi was first appointed to the Board in 2009 […]
January 10th, 2022
Notice of final adoption for DMH MYPAC Rules
The public comment period for the proposed DMH Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock (MYPAC) rules expired at the close of business on January 10, 2022. Public comment received was considered in the development of the final MYPAC rules. (Please refer to the link below for additional information.) With permission from the Mississippi State Board […]
October 29th, 2021
Draft FY 22-23 Community Mental Health Services Block Grant/State Plan Available for Review
The Draft FY 22-23 Community Mental Health Services Block Grant/State Plan is now available for public review and comment. The FY 22-23 Draft State Plan can be reviewed by clicking here, and it is also linked on the Provider Documents page of the DMH web site. Please review the Plan and provide your comments to […]
September 27th, 2021
DMH Releases FY21 Suicide Prevention Plan Progress Report
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) has released its FY21 Progress Report for the state’s Suicide Prevention Plan, a comprehensive document that lays out the goals and objectives the state is taking to fight death by suicide. The Suicide Prevention Plan includes three goals: Engage and empower Mississippians to help prevent suicide by increasing […]
June 9th, 2021
DMH and MSDH Announce “Put Your Foot Down” Campaign to fight HIV/AIDS epidemic
June 9, 2021 – The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) have announced a new awareness campaign titled “Put Your Foot Down, Mississippi” to inspire Mississippians to join renewed efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mississippi. Contrary to public perception, HIV/AIDS is still a problem in […]
May 6th, 2021
May Marks Mental Health Awareness Month: DMH Encourages Mississippians to Think Again about Personal Mental Health in Light of Pandemic
May 6, 2021 (Jackson, Mississippi) – This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us as Mississippians to cope with situations we never even imagined, and a lot of us struggled with our mental health as a result. In the face of an […]
April 7th, 2021
DMH Receives Additional Federal Funding for Mental Health and Substance Use Services
April 7, 2021 (Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) has received additional one-time federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), totaling nearly $20.5 million in funding for mental health and substance use services. DMH has received $12,938,191 in funding for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment […]
April 7th, 2021
Mississippi Joins Multi-State Effort with the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide
April 6, 2021 (Jackson, Miss.) – Mississippi is pleased to be one of eight states accepted this year in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevention Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. This initiative is a partnership between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs […]
February 10th, 2021
Mississippi Department of Mental Health Receives National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Grant
February 8, 2021 (Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) today announces it is receiving $125,000 in funding toward planning for the implementation of a new national three-digit dialing code, 988, for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The grant funds will be used to help Mississippi Lifeline call centers prepare for infrastructure […]
December 14th, 2020
DMH Announces ‘Behind the Mask’ Campaign to Bring Services to More Mississippians During Pandemic
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) announced today a new awareness campaign titled “Behind the Mask” to promote mental health services for Mississippians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide campaign will be customized at the local level for Community Mental Health Centers and DMH Certified Providers. As the world continues to experience the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, more individuals may find themselves experiencing increased stress. Fears about […]
September 25th, 2020
FY20 Suicide Prevention Plan Progress Report Now Available
September 25, 2020 – DMH has released the FY20 update for the Mississippi Suicide Prevention Plan, providing a snapshot of the efforts taken to combat suicide in the state during the past fiscal year. The plan includes three goals: Engage and empower Mississippians to help prevent suicide by increasing awareness of suicide as a public […]