The agency will work with organizations statewide to identify gaps in existing programs and strengthen coordinated care. First year partners include Jackson State University’s Jackson Metro Prevention Coalition, Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center and Mississippi State University’s The Alliance Project.
Department of Mental Health Director Wendy Bailey said the five-year approach will allow the agency to see the impact being made by the grant and where funding goes.
“This is a five-year program, so it gives us the opportunity to truly be able to see outcomes and progress made over an extended period of time, and the grant is going to help improve early intervention and identification, which is vital for youth suicide prevention,” Bailey said.
She said the multi-year approach will also help the department identify where resources are lacking so improvements can be made year by year. The first year will focus on ensuring programs and mental health advocates know how to spot and de-escalate youth at risk.
“So, it is really going to be looking at making sure the community, and providers and partners know how to screen and how to assess, how to identify someone early, and then how to make those referrals and make sure that care coordination happens,” Bailey said.
Henry Thompson, director of the Jackson Metro Prevention Coalition, said the partnership with MDMH will allow the coalition to reach more students at Jackson State University.
“What this program brings is that we're able to provide them the resources and the tools to have health care providers and community partners to enhance this program,” Thompson said. “... our youth, they go through a lot of things, and mental health issues, and so this program is big for us to help our youth in our community.”
Thompson added the program has already seen positive impacts on student mental health, and the partnership will continue that trend.
“We've seen a lot of great impact and input from the students saying that they're glad that we had a program to help with their mental health,” Thompson said. “It was makin' a great difference with the students ... they were dealing with issues and due to the training, they were able to get the help that they needed.”
Bailey added that it will take more than just funding to improve suicide prevention care, but the will of a community to work towards learning how to help those at risk.
“This grant is going to make a tremendous impact on our ability to help prevent suicide. I'm confident in that,” Bailey said. “But preventing suicide also involves everyone in a family and everyone in the community. Every Mississippian has a responsibility to also help prevent suicides.”
The department and collaborators will work each year to see where resources are lacking and how they can be upgraded. Later partnerships will focus on resources within child welfare, the juvenile justice system, and more to be announced.
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