Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Mississippi

In 2006, Mississippi’s mental health care system received a D grade. Three years later, it has dropped to an F. Mississippi's primary challenge is the continuing lack of appropriate community-based services and supports. Full narrative (PDF).

Grades by Category Detailed Score Card (PDF)

Health Promotion and Measurement: F 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices, emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: F 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
Consumer & Family Empowerment: C 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.

Innovations

Preliminary steps toward community-based services
Regional crisis centers
Support for CIT in Jackson

Urgent Needs

ACT, integrated dual diagnosis treatment, and supportive housing
Medicaid funding for evidence-based practices
Eliminate use of jails for people under civil commitment orders

Additional Information and Resources

Full Narrative (PDF) | Detailed Score Card (PDF) | Full Report | Order Hard Copy

NAMI Mississippi: Connect with the NAMI nearest you.

Grading the States Online Discussion: Share your comments, reactions, personal stories, and ideas around NAMI's report on the state of America's health care system for serious mental illness.

Grading the States 2006 Report Card: Mississippi

"Clinics are run like mills. You wait long periods of time for appointments, and then they just drug you without adequate diagnosis. They don’t care."