News Releases

DMH Begins Implementation of Conflict Free Case Management

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) has begun the implementation of conflict-free case management services for the Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Waiver.  Conflict-free case management is required for all states by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and will result in the transfer of a number of DMH employees to other community providers […]

Mississippi State Hospital Partners with Region 8 for Forensic Services

Dr. Thomas Recore, Dr. Amanda Gugliano, and Dr. Reb McMichael from Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) Forensic Services, along with hospital director James Chastain, attended a meeting of the Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers on Aug. 9 to share information about two new programs impacting services statewide. MSH, the Department of Mental Health (DMH) […]

DMH and DPS Strengthen Partnership to Save Lives

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) is partnering with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide naloxone, a life-saving medication that blocks or reverses effects of opioid overdoses, to all sworn personnel of DPS. This effort was funded by the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant, as part of the […]

DMH and NAMI Mississippi Host Mental Health First Aid ‘Train the Trainer’

Mississippi recently added 29 more individuals to the growing list of Mental Health First Aid Instructors in the state through a training offered by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and NAMI Mississippi. This is the first time in Mississippi that in addition to the Mental Health First Aid course, participants also received supplemental training […]

DMH Consolidates Functions at Behavioral Health Programs

The Department of Mental Health announced in July a consolidation of various aspects of its programs in an effort to reduce administrative overhead while continuing to deliver quality services to Mississippians in need. The department’s six programs for mental health services will be consolidated under the umbrellas of two of its current programs, Mississippi State […]

2017 Trauma Informed Care Conference is September 26-29 in Jackson

The 2017 Trauma Informed Care Conference will be September 26-29 at the Jackson Convention Center. Titled “Standing in the Eye of the Storm,” the conference brings together mental health professionals from throughout the state to build skills, knowledge, and awareness so they can effectively respond to various aspects of child, adolescent, and adult trauma. The […]

Suicide Prevention Symposium is September 19 in Jackson

A one-day symposium on September 19 aims to address suicide prevention across all age groups in Mississippi – children and youth, adults, and elder adults who may be at risk. The symposium will be at the Jackson Medical Mall, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on September 19, and will include a number of speakers, including […]

Robert Landrum Named Chair of Board of Mental Health

Robert Landrum of Ellisville has been named Chair of the Board of Mental Health for the year beginning July 1, 2017. Mr. Landrum has served for the previous year as Vice Chair of the Board, and has been a board member since 1993. He became involved in mental health in the early 1980s, after his […]

Dr. Manda Griffin Named Vice Chair of Board of Mental Health

Dr. Manda Griffin of Houlka has been named the Vice Chair of the Board of Mental Health for the year beginning July 1, 2017. Dr. Griffin has extensive experience in the medical field. She is a registered respiratory therapist, a licensed social worker, and a board certified family nurse practitioner. She received her bachelor’s degree […]

Board of Mental Health honors outgoing member George Harrison

The Board of Mental Health recently passed a resolution honoring Mr. George Harrison, of Coffeeville, whose term that ended June 30 brings an end to more than 20 years of service to Mississippi’s mental health system. Mr. Harrison was appointed in 1996 by Gov. Kirk Fordice and was reappointed two subsequent times, once by Gov. […]

Oxford Developer Stewart Rutledge Joins Board of Mental Health

Stewart Rutledge of Oxford has been appointed to the Mississippi Board of Mental Health by Governor Phil Bryant. Mr. Rutledge is a real estate developer who will serve as the citizen representative for the First Congressional District for a seven-year term beginning July 1. Mr. Rutledge earned a bachelora’s degree in physics, summa cum laude, […]

DMH Releases FY 17 Progress Report for Suicide Prevention Plan

The Mississippi Suicide Prevention Plan Workgroup was formed in April 2016 to finalize the state’s efforts in developing a formal plan to help combat a public health issue that affects people of all ages, races, and gender – suicide. Mississippi’s State Suicide Prevention Plan was released in September 2016. The three-year plan was divided into […]

Town Hall Meeting on Opioids Scheduled for July 18 in Tupelo

July 12, 2017 (Jackson, Miss.) – A town hall meeting in Tupelo on July 18 will address the growing impact of opioids in communities across the state. The meeting is hosted in a partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Mississippi […]

DMH Response to Release of TAC Assessment on Children Services

Recent media coverage related to the release of the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) report regarding children’s mental health services in the state has focused on the fact the report was sealed by a judge for more than two years. There is an important aspect to its release that has been overlooked – the TAC report […]

Town Hall Meeting on Opioids Scheduled for June 27 in Hattiesburg

June 16, 2017 (Jackson, Miss.) – A town hall meeting in Hattiesburg on June 27 will address the growing impact of opioids in communities across the state. The meeting is hosted in a partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Mississippi […]

2017 Opioid & Heroin Drug Summit is July 11-13 at Broadmoor Baptist Church

Education. Training. Collaboration. Saving lives. These are the goals of the 2017 Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Summit – an opportunity for all of us to face the epidemic that touches our families, friends and loved ones. The 2.5 day summit will be July 11-13, 2017, at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison. It will bring together 3 […]

Town Hall Meeting on Impact of Opioids Scheduled for June 13 in Diamondhead

May 30, 2017 (Jackson, Miss.) – A town hall meeting in Diamondhead on June 13 will address the growing impact of opioids in communities across the state. The meeting is hosted in a partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Board of Pharmacy, and the […]

DMH Partners with Health and Safety Agencies for Opioid Town Halls

A town hall meeting in Brandon on May 23 addressed the growing impact of opioids in communities across the state. The meeting was hosted in a partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Mississippi offices of the FBI. It was the first of several that […]

Town Hall Meeting on Impact of Opioids Scheduled for May 23 in Brandon

A town hall meeting in Brandon this month will address the growing impact of opioids in communities across the state. The meeting is hosted in a partnership with the Department of Mental Health, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Jackson Division of the FBI. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. […]