Please join NAMI Mississippi, the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi, the Association of Mississippi Peer Support Specialists, and Families as Allies this morning for Mental Health and Well-Being Day at the Capitol from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The press conference for the event will take place at 10:15 a.m. on the second-floor rotunda steps.
The theme of the day is “Nothing About Us Without Us.” We urge everyone reading this to come to the Capitol and tell your legislators about your and your family’s experiences with mental health support in Mississippi and what you think would be most helpful. We also encourage you to share these points with your legislators:
- Include us from the beginning. People with lived experience should help shape mental health policy—not be brought in after decisions are made.
- Don’t draft legislation without us. State agencies provide information, but they do not speak for us. Our voices and our organizations must be at the table.
- Support transparency. Thank you for SB 2259, which increases public access to information. If it doesn’t pass, please support livestreaming of Department of Mental Health board meetings.
- Protect access to data. HB 349 limits access to court data, and SB 2445 removes an independent office that provides essential mental health system data.
- No new oversight without community input. SB 2445 appears to create a new monitoring structure without involving the people who rely on these services.
- Gather more input on Assisted Outpatient Treatment. HB 424 could be used in a coercive way and does not address real barriers to accessing care. More community input is needed.
- Thank you for expanding community voice. We appreciate HB 1760 and SB 2726 for increasing public involvement in oversight of opioid settlement funds.
- Thank you for keeping the mental health code open for updates. SB 2478 creates an opportunity for needed improvements.
You can also download and share a print copy of these points with your legislators.
