Saturday, May 4, 2024
5/4/2024
The Mississippi Delta isknown for extreme hardship and poverty. Our roads are mired with decades of human struggle and risk factors for mental health issues. In response, Community Students Learning Center (CSLC) and partners invite the SAMHSA to forge a new ROAD to wellness. ROAD: Rural Opportunities for Access and Development establishes mental health (MH) awareness trainings, decreases stigma, expands workforce training capacity, and results in expanded access and availability of trauma-informed, culturally, linguistically appropriate mental health services. MS Dept of MH’s Region 6 (HRSA MH Catchment Area #6). Comprised of 12 Delta counties (Attala, Bolivar, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington), each is designated as rural4 and a Health Professional Shortage Area (HSPA)5 in primary care, dental, and mental health. Contributing Factors and Demographics Averaged Across Twelve Counties Population Black White Poverty Child Poverty Mental Distress Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 18,101 36.25% 31.92% 30.45% 41.42% 15.08% 45.16% Severe Housing Problems Uninsured Poor Health Insufficient Sleep Social Isolation 18.50% 16.75% 28.08% 37.67% 86.83% Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & U.S. Census Bureau A decade after being sued by the Southern Poverty Law Center7 for failing to meet the needs of Medicaid-eligible children with mental health needs, Mississippi remains stuck at bottom of national rankings for adult and child access to MH care.8 Within the state, access is the worst in the Delta.8,9,10 HRSA specifies Region 6 as a MH “High Needs Geographic HPSA” giving it a dismal score 21 out of 26.5While access is low, risk factors and needs are high. Poverty is rampant. Yet, it is black Delta residents who shoulder the brunt; unequally facing poverty THREE times the rate of white residents (Black: 48.5%; Whites 15.9%).12Even worse, more than twice as many black children live in poverty.11 Moreover, research indicates that 86.8% adults overuse prescription drugs in the Delta.13Snapshot Delta ROAD Implementation ¿ Train/Certify instructors in Evidence-based Practice (EBP): Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) ¿ MHFA instructors provide MHFA trainings to Target Training Recipient Groups ¿ Graduates/completers of MHFA are known as “Mental Health First Aiders.” ¿ Trainings prepare MH Aiders to: Recognize the signs and symptoms of, psychological distress/crisis, substance misuse, and/or mental disorders particularly SMI and/or serious emotional disturbances SED. Respond appropriately & safely to adults with MH disorders using de-escalation techniques. Refer adults with the signs or symptoms of mental illness to mental health services. SAMSHA says effective prevention saves $18 per $1 invested. Thus, with this $625,000 investment - ROAD will save an estimated $11.2m. Further, it allows us to build ROADs to health/wellness where none have been before. (Sources in
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
