MHA News Now

Mississippi works to improve crisis services

Over the past several years, Mississippi has diligently worked to improve crisis services in the community for individuals with mental illness. With the increase in emergency room use by people with mental illness occurring across the country, it’s important for Mississippi hospitals to understand what services are available. 

Mississippi currently has nine Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) throughout the state – Corinth, Laurel, Batesville, Newton, Cleveland, Grenada, Brookhaven, Gulfport, and Tupelo. In 2010, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) transferred the operation of the CSUs to the Community Mental Health Centers. This transition removed the requirement that individuals must be court committed prior to admission to the CSUs.  An individual can now receive services before they decompensate to the point of meeting commitment criteria. 

“It is critical for people to receive treatment before they become so acutely ill that hospitalization is required,” said Ed LeGrand, DMH Executive Director. “Partnering with the community mental health system has encouraged "seamless" services to take place - a service element which has been lacking in our state.”

In addition to the CSUs, DMH has been working with the Department of Public Safety and police departments to establish Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs). A CIT is a community partnership of law enforcement, health care and mental health providers, mental health consumers and their families. The goal is to help individuals with a mental illness access medical treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness-related behaviors. 

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department completed their CIT training in 2013 and has utilized that training to help individuals who are facing a mental health crisis.

“Putting a person with a mental illness or a person having a mental health crisis in jail is not helping matters,” said Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department. “There is a lot that can be done to defuse a situation and keep things under control, if an officer knows what to do. The training not only focuses on identifying individuals in a mental health crisis, but strategies to de-escalate situations where before, perhaps, officers would have been quicker to act as opposed to talk.”

In 2010, the Mississippi Legislature created a law that allows properly-trained law enforcement to seek help on behalf of a person they believe to have a mental illness. The trained officers can evaluate a situation to determine whether it is a mental health situation. The training prepares them to better handle what is happening and utilize the services of mental health specialists on a short-term basis rather than placing an individual in jail. The law also amended the 72-hour hold law, allowing treatment professionals more flexibility when holding someone without a court order. 

“Officers that are properly trained and have received a CIT certification can take a person that they believe is a harm to themselves or others and bring them to the Crisis Stabilization Unit for evaluation to make a determination whether they need to be committed through the court system, or whether they can be stabilized and released,” said Calhoun.

“It is our hope that CIT will spread across Mississippi,” said Calhoun. “We have told everybody that will listen, that CIT works.”

If you have questions about the Crisis Stabilization Units, contact Andrew Day, DMH Director of the Division of Crisis Response at 601-359-1288. If you are interested in establishing a CIT in your community, contact Brent Hurley, DMH Division of Crisis Response, at 601-359-1288.

If you or someone you know is in need of services and supports, call the DMH’s 24 hour-a-day, 7 days a week at 1-877-210-8513 or visit www.dmh.ms.gov.    

Mississippi develops Mobile Crisis Response Teams

In an effort to expand crisis services in the community, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) has provided grants to the local Community Mental Health Centers to establish Mobile Crisis Response Teams.  

 

What are Mobile Crisis Response Teams?

Mobile Crisis Response Teams provide community-based crisis services that deliver solution-focused and recovery-oriented behavioral health assessments and stabilization of crisis in the location where the individual is experiencing the crisis.  

Mobile Crisis Response Teams work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement, Chancery Judges and Clerks, and the Crisis Stabilization Units to ensure a seamless process.  

Mobile Crisis Response Teams ensure an individual has a follow-up appointment with their preferred provider and monitor the individual until the appointment takes place.

 

Who can be served by a Mobile Crisis Response Team?

Mobile Crisis Response Teams target individuals experiencing a situation where the individual’s behavioral health needs exceed the individual’s resources to effectively handle the circumstances.

 

How can a Mobile Crisis Response Team help?

Without mobile crisis intervention, an individual experiencing a crisis may be inappropriately and unnecessarily placed in a jail, holding facility, hospital, or inpatient treatment program. The goal is to respond in a timely manner to where the individual is experiencing the crisis or meet the individual at a designated location such as the local hospital.

 

Who makes up a Mobile Crisis Response Team?

A Mobile Crisis Response Team is staffed with a Master’s level Mental Health Therapist, Community Support Specialist and Peer Support Specialist.

 

How can I access a Mobile Crisis Response Team?

Individuals, families, law enforcement, clergy, ERs, chancery courts, and anyone concerned about an individual who is experiencing or at risk of a psychological crisis can request assistance from a Mobile Crisis Response Team. The Teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout a CMHC catchment area.

 

For more information, contact Andrew Day, DMH Director of the Division of Crisis Response at 601-359-6456 or your local CMHC.

Mental Health Month focuses on overall well-being of Mississippians

Blood pressure, glucose levels, cholesterol, and body mass index are all things we mention when we talk about being healthy. We often forget that mental health is an essential component of overall health and well-being. The fact is our overall well-being is tied to the balance that exists between our emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health. Good health involves not only caring for our body, but also our minds.

While conditions like depression are common - roughly 1 in 4 Mississippians have a mental health condition - they are extremely treatable. During Mental Health Month in May, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) is spreading the word about how good mental health and good physical health go hand in hand. Mind Your Health - this year’s theme - calls attention to strategies and approaches that help all Mississippians achieve wellness and good mental and overall health.

What is mental health? If you were to ask your office mate, spouse or neighbor, they may respond that it is a “state of mind,” “being content with life” or “feeling good about yourself.” Simply put, mental health is the ability to cope with daily life and the challenges it brings. When a person has “good” mental health, they deal better with what comes their way. By contrast, “poor” mental health—such as feeling overwhelmed by stress —can make even day-to-day life difficult.

Poor mental health can also significantly harm a person’s physical health. For instance, research shows that stress is closely linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. It also shows that people who feel depressed or chronically stressed may have a greater risk of physical illnesses.

The good news is there are many healthy choices and steps that individuals can adopt to promote and strengthen mental health—and overall health and well-being. A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. It can also help people recover from these conditions.

“Most people don’t think twice about seeking treatment for diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure or other health conditions,” said Ed LeGrand, DMH Executive Director. “People should seek treatment for substance abuse and mental health with the same urgency as they would any other health condition. It’s important for us to break down barriers and understand that mental health is an essential part of overall health.”

Using strategies that promote resiliency and strengthen mental health lead to improved general health and a healthier society, greater academic achievement by our children, a more productive economy, and families that stay together.

Staying healthy and focusing on overall wellness is essential to recovery. Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is unique to each individual and can truly only be defined by the individual themselves.

DMH continues to focus on recovery through collaboration with the Think Recovery campaign and the Mississippi Peer Support Specialist Network. The Mississippi Peer Support Specialist Network members are first degree family members and/or people living in recovery with mental illness, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental disabilities that provide support to others who can benefit from their lived experiences.

“Good mental health includes assisting individuals to obtain opportunities to engage in social activities, make friends, and contribute to society, and that is where Peer Support Specialists do their best work,” said Melody Worsham, President of the Mississippi Peer Support Specialist Network. “Through advocacy and mentoring, we support so many who feel like they don't have a voice. As of today, the Mississippi Peer Support Specialist Network is not even one year old, and we have already seen the benefits of our presence throughout the state.”

May is Mental Health Month was started 64 years ago by Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for everyone.

For more information about Mental Health Month, visit www.dmh.ms.gov.

Violence, Trauma and Healing Workshop set for May 31

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health, in partnership with Weems Community Mental Health Center, NFusion X, East Mississippi State Hospital and the Bradley Sanders Adolescent Complex Center, will present Violence, Trauma and Healing: The Impact on Children and Families. The workshop will be held on May 31 at Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship in Meridian from 9 a.m. until noon. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The prevalence of trauma and its impact on the lives of families and communities is well documented. The relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and physical health, emotional health and social outcomes in adult life is at the core of the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.

This workshop will offer trauma informed approaches to promote healing from trauma at the individual, family, and community level. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be able to: 1) Describe Trauma Informed Care and identify principles/behaviors of those with traumatic histories; 2) Discuss the impact of trauma on a community; 3) Discuss strategies to begin the healing process.

There is no fee for the workshop. Immediately following the workshop will be a presentation, Faith, Trauma and Healing. This presentation is targeted for leaders in the faith-based community only.

For more information, contact Paige Johnson at pjohnson@weemsmh.com or call (601) 482-4467.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2014

Join SAMHSA, 1,100 communities, and 136 national collaborating organizations in celebration of the 2014 National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day: Inspiring Resilience, Creating Hope. Learn more here.

7th Annual Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals Set for April 1-4

In an effort to help educate Mississippi’s addiction, treatment, and prevention professionals, about alcohol and drug abuse and prevention the 7th Annual Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals, hosted by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services, will be held April 1-4 at the Hattiesburg Convention Center. “We provide a learning experience where professionals or nonprofessionals can come together to learn from innovative individuals who are leaders in the field of substance abuse treatment and prevention,” said Dr. Jerri Avery, DMH Director of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services. “The MS School is an excellent way to educate people on the best practices available to produce the best outcomes for those we serve.”

The MS School for Addiction Professionals will offer exciting plenary sessions, special events and a variety of courses in prevention, intervention and treatment, all of which are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of each participant. The MS School offers many courses that address contemporary topics to help professionals remain abreast as to the latest trends in their areas. The MS School is open to treatment professionals, service providers, educators, parents, nurses, social workers, school counselors, law enforcement, faith based organizations, concerned citizens and others.

Keynote presenters include: Dr. Chip Dodd, When Does Therapy Become Therapeutic?; Dr. David Mee-Lee, Understanding DSM-5; David Mineta, Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; Dr. Earl Suttle, Enjoying Excellence – Becoming the Best You Can Be; Jamie Huysman, Run Towards the Roar; and Kelly Wilson, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT).

Substance abuse disorders don’t just affect the individual, but their family, friends and the community. Thousands of Mississippians are in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. They are neighbors, friends and family members leading healthy and productive lives in our communities. More than 23 million people, aged 12 or older, needed treatment for a substance use disorder in the United States in 2007, and in Mississippi alone, 183,000 people and their families are affected by this disease. Each year, the alcohol and drug residential treatment centers in Mississippi certified by DMH’s Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services, provide residential treatment to more than 6,000 Mississippians suffering from substance abuse and dependence problems.

For more information about The Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals, contact 601-359-1288 or visit www.themsschool.ms.gov.

SAMHSA Reports Provide Data on Mississippi's Top Behavioral Health Issues

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a series of reports examining substance abuse and mental illness in America’s communities.

These Behavioral Health Barometer reports provide a snapshot of behavioral health nationwide and in each state. The reports present a set of substance use and mental health indicators based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. The reports examine areas such as substance abuse and mental health treatment, in both adults and youths, and benchmarks state data against national rates.

This is the first release of the reports, and SAMHSA officials said they plan to issue future installments to reveal trends. Mississippi's report is available here.

Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Quality Measure Reports

The Affordable Care Act established a quality reporting program for inpatient psychiatric facilities beginning in 2014. Failure to report on measures selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) results in a 2% Medicare payment reduction. The measures collected relate to Patient Safety, Clinical Quality of Care and Care Coordination.

Based on data already reported, the first set of the reports is now available for review by hospitals on their individual Quality Net accounts. Hospitals have until Jan. 29 to correct any data errors before the data is made available to the public on Hospital Compare in April.

CMS has scheduled a webinar on Jan. 7 from 12–1 p.m. (Central Time) to discuss the public reporting review process.

DMH Receives Grant for Co-Occurring Treatment for Youth

Over the next four years, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) plans to improve assessment and treatment services for adolescents with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders through the use of a $3.8 million, four-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Mississippi State Adolescent Treatment Enhancement and Dissemination (MS SYT-ED) project will strengthen the State’s systems to serve adolescents, ages 12 – 18, with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders by developing two learning sites in Mississippi for evidence-based treatment for adolescents. The two learning sites will help develop a blueprint for policies, procedures, and financing structures that can be used to widen the use of evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices in Mississippi. The two learning sites will identify barriers to access and treatment, and test solutions that can be applied throughout the state for adolescents and their families.

“This grant will profoundly impact the way we treat adolescents with mental illness and substance abuse in our state,” said Pam Smith, MS SYT-ED Program Manager. “A key to this grant is the dissemination of information. We want to share what we learn through the two collaborative sites with the entire State in order to better address the treatment of adolescents and their need for recovery support through improved integration and efficiency of services.”

According to SmartTrack, Mississippi adolescents exhibit an exceptionally early age of alcohol onset, persistent use of marijuana, methamphetamines, prescription drugs and other gateway drugs. Various statewide assessments of substance use among youth in Mississippi indicate that about 64.8% of high school students reported having used alcohol at least once in their lifetime, 19.3 % reported binge alcohol use in the past 30 days. In addition, adolescents coming into substance use treatment often have co-occurring substance use and mental health problems. Among adolescents aged 12-17 years entering into substance abuse treatment in 2009 in Mississippi, an estimated 11.6% had a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder.

“The statistics alone clearly show the need for the very best evidence-based treatment for our youth,” said Pam Smith, MS SYT-ED Program Manager. “Families who have a child with a mental illness and are dealing with a substance abuse issue need access to treatment and real-time solutions. We want to find the gaps in the system and develop strategies to address the gaps in order to give these youth a better future.”

Anticipated outcomes of this project include:

• decreased juvenile justice involvement for adolescents,
• increased rates of abstinence,
• increased enrollment in education, vocational training and/or employment,
• increased positive social connectedness, and
• increased access, service use, and outcomes among adolescents most vulnerable to health disparities.

Community Mental Health Centers, Free-Standing nonprofit, and private nonprofit centers who have a two year history of providing co-occurring treatment services to adolescents (ages 12-18) who are interested in applying to become one of the two collaborative learning sites, can receive more information by contacting DMH at 601-359-1288 or visiting www.dmh.state.ms.us. Any agency that applies must be in compliance with all State/Federal/Tribal licensing, accreditation, and certification requirements. 

Big Changes For Addiction Treatment Predicted Under Obamacare

An estimated 40 million people could enter treatment because the health law recognizes drug addiction and alcoholism as chronic diseases that must be covered by insurance plans, according to the California Health Report.  Learn more here.

MHA members: Join MHA's Society for Behavioral Health to stay up to date on mental health issues and network with professionals around the state. Join online here.