The Silent Epidemic

The connection between mental health and its importance to a community’s economic
development is not often discussed. It is my position that one of the keys to a healthy and viable
community is a strong mental health system that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or income.
While we may think this is not a pressing issue in our community, state data proves otherwise. The
Clarion Ledger reported on March 15, 2019 that suicides in Mississippi have increased in recent years
after a drop in 2015. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 445 people
committed suicide in 2017 in Mississippi, which was up from 383 the previous year.

The Jason Foundation, a national group focusing on youth suicide awareness and prevention,
reported the results of the Mississippi 2015 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (the most recent one in which
Mississippi data was reported) and the 2015 Center for Disease Control’s National Data Reporting data.
The information listed below was collected from the National Data report

 Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10-14 year-olds in Mississippi
 Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 12-18 years in Mississippi
 Suicide in the 2nd leading cause of death for college-age youth in Mississippi

The Behavioral Risk Survey was given to randomly selected high school students in Mississippi
and the results were alarming:

 When asked if they had ever made a plan to commit suicide in the past twelve months,
the answer was 15.1%” yes” as compared to 14.6% nationally.
 When asked if they had ever attempted suicide in the past twelve months, the answer
was 12.7% as compared to 8.6% nationally.
 When asked if they experienced feelings of hopelessness and constant sadness
constantly for a period of two weeks or greater during the past twelve months, 29.5
answered “yes” as compared to 29-9% nationally.

A letter to the editor of the Meridian Star written in 2006 by Cindy Dyess employed at Alliance
Health Center at the time stated, “The Youth Risk Survey, completed in Mississippi recently, revealed
that one out of 16 students "attempted" suicide in the past 12 months. We need your assistance in
spreading the word about this horrible "silent epidemic."…..”

According to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, a program serving young children,
birth to three years of age serves the 23 counties in Northeast Mississippi. Reaching Us Now or Project
RUN. “The program provides early-intervention services to infants and children (birth to 3) who are
experiencing developmental delays (such as difficulty in achieving childhood milestones such as rolling
over, crawling, walking, talking, self-feeding, dressing, etc.); who have diagnoses known to be associated
with developmental delays (such as Down Syndrome, autism, etc.); or who have special needs (such as
prematurity or medical complications) that may delay their development.” State funding has been
reduced over the last few years and services limited. According to the Autism Center of North
Mississippi, the Center currently (May 2019) has 450 children on a waiting list to receive services.

Information presented by the Mental Health Alliance, indicates the cost of depression on the
workplace is significant. According to the Alliance, if left untreated, depression is as costly as heart
disease or AIDS to the US economy, costing over $51 billion in absenteeism from work and lost
productivity and $26 billion in direct treatment costs. Depression tends to affect people in their prime
working years and may last a lifetime if untreated. Fortunately, the Alliance reports that 80 percent of
people with clinical depression can be successfully treated if addressed early.

After a recent visit with Dr. Paul Callens, Director of the North Mississippi State Hospital located
in Tupelo, the funding crisis facing our state mental health system was confirmed. The hospital serves
individuals living in 18 counties in North Mississippi. After years of state budget cuts, the Department of
Mental Health is struggling to continue to offer high quality services. In 2019, the Department of Mental
Health requested a restoration of the state funding totaling $3,116,446 to their budget for expansion of
evidenced-based /best-practice services in the community to extend community based care. The
request was denied. Even in the midst of budget cuts, The North MS State Hospital continues to offer a
high quality of care for all of their patients. This is due to a highly dedicated staff and a high level of fiscal
management of the present resources.

The projected FY 2020 for the State Hospital in Lee County is almost $7.5 million dollars with
almost all of it spent in North Mississippi. With 95 full-time employees, 6 contract employees and 29
contracts for licensed professional services, the hospital is a significant employer in the region. The
hospital also creates 77 indirect jobs in our service area. The estimated 2018 economic impact on the
area is $11,818,787. In FY 2018 there were 493 admissions and an average 3 day wait for a bed.

Our community is well positioned to support the needs of individuals, regardless of age or
income, who are diagnosed with mental illness if our state representatives push for funding to address
the local as well as regional needs of our citizens and their families. No family should be broken,
financially or spiritually, due to untreated mental health issues. New leadership is needed in Jackson to
speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. It is a matter of conscience that also happens to
benefit the economy.