Resources available for struggling Mississippians

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – One in 5 Mississippians is struggling with psychological well being circumstances, and May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a month to make clear psychological well being circumstances and assets which are available locally.

Dr. Mark Ladner, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UMMC, mentioned discovering assist and therapy when coping with psychological well being is vital.

“One of the biggest risk factors in a non-treated mental illness is suicide, and we certainly want to do everything we can to prevent that,” Ladner mentioned. “Also, many of the psychiatric disorders that we treat are chronic and can be very disabling. People can lose careers, jobs, marriages, you know, their social life is severely impaired.”

Help is available for everybody, together with low-income households and people who could really feel care is out of attain.

“Majority of those resources are provided through 12 community mental health centers that are available across the state, and they have a sliding scale fee, and they can help individuals who need to receive services but may be struggling with an ability to pay,” mentioned Wendy Bailey, govt director for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

Those neighborhood facilities present a variety of providers, from disaster response to intensive neighborhood assist providers for youngsters and adults.

Bailey mentioned reaching out is vital, particularly with the rising numbers within the state.

In the primary six months of the fiscal 12 months, Bailey mentioned there have been virtually 14,000 calls to 988, the behavioral well being disaster line. A quantity she mentioned has risen by 20% to 30% because it launched within the state.

“The more open that we are to having those conversations and picking up that phone and making that call to 988 or to the help line or go visit your community mental health center, that’s when you do see an increase in the number of people who are receiving services,” Bailey mentioned.

To be taught extra details about assets available and the place to discover a neighborhood psychological well being middle, go to the Department of Mental Health’s website or name 988.

“Realizing that it’s OK to not be OK and there’s people there to help and that help is available for everyone in our state,” Bailey mentioned.

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