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People encouraged to reach out as Mental Health Awareness Month concludes

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As May comes to an end, and with it, the formal recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Department of Mental Health reminds Mississippians that there are more services and supports available than ever before, and help is only a phone call, a mouse click, or a screen tap away.

There is more than one way to easily find services available near you – the DMH Helpline is available at 1-877-210-8513, the DMH website and the Mental Health Mississippi websites are live and able to provide information and the newly-launched Mississippi Cares website. That site, available at www.mississippicares.ai, can connect people with not just mental health services, but social services of all kinds and an extensive knowledge library.

“May is recognized throughout the country as Mental Health Awareness Month, but no matter the time of year, people should be aware of how to find help and never hesitate to reach out for it,” DMH Executive Director Wendy Bailey said.

“We’re proud to have launched Mississippi Cares this month, giving another way for Mississippians to find help in their communities. Taking that first step and asking for help is so important, and we’ll never stop working to help people know where to turn when they’re struggling.”

Mississippi has worked tirelessly over the past several years to expand the continuum of services that are available, ranging from crisis response services and intensive community care that helps prevent hospitalizations. While specific services available through the state’s Community Mental Health Centers may vary, DMH makes available a variety of treatment options around the state.

Mobile Crisis Response Teams and Crisis Stabilization Units are available to help people in acute crisis situations. Each center in the state has access to these teams and units. While the teams can respond to locations where someone is experiencing a crisis, the units can accept people in need for short-term stays or stabilize and divert someone from a need for treatment at a hospital.

Programs of Assertive Community Treatment and Intensive Community Outreach and Recovery Teams – PACT and ICORT, as they’re known – are available at centers throughout the state, along with Intensive Community Support Services. The PACT Teams and ICORTs are multidisciplinary teams that provide services in the community for people with severe mental illness. ICSS provides targeted case management from specialists who are directly involved with the clients who receive services. All three programs are intended to prevent hospitalizations.

Services specifically for children, youth, and young adults are also available at the centers. These include MAP Teams, which have members from numerous local community agencies and work with children and youth who have serious emotional or behavioral disorders. Some areas of the state also have access to Navigate, a program that assists people ranging from 15 to 40 years of age who have experienced their first episode of psychosis.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available statewide by simply dialing those three digits – 988 – or by texting them or chatting online. This national resource connects callers in need with trained crisis counselors. Mississippi currently has the highest in-state answer rate in the nation, meaning that when you call, you’re getting connected with a fellow Mississippian who knows the state and its available resources. Callers can also get connected with their local Mobile Crisis Response Team by calling 988.

“We say this every year, and every year it is true, but there are more resources, services, and supports available now than ever before,” Bailey said. “There are people throughout our state ready, able, and willing to help anyone in need.

“Treatment works and recovery is possible. We encourage anyone who is struggling, or knows someone who is, to reach out for help and see how they can start their journey of recovery today.”

How To Find Help

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