Mental illness is a health condition that can cause changes in a person’s mood, thinking, or behavior. It is sometimes easy to forget that our brain, like all our other organs, is vulnerable to disease.
We Are Here For You:
Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) provides compassionate, quality care to individuals in need of mental health and substance use treatment. Each individual receives treatment from an interdisciplinary team of professionals. MSH is one of the four state hospitals which operates under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. The DMH Helpline is 1-877-210-8513 if you have further questions.
How To Get Help:
An individual may be admitted to MSH through the commitment process. Commitment is a legal process in which a court orders a person to the hospital for treatment. The first step towards helping someone receive services at MSH is for a relative or interested party to contact the local community mental health center where the person needing services resides or is present to complete a pre-affidavit screening. (I would insert link for the contact information for the local mental health centers here). The purpose of this screening is to determine if there are alternative options that can be considered prior to the filing of an affidavit for involuntary commitment. The screening findings will be shared with the local chancery clerk’s office. If less restrictive treatment is not an option, then an affidavit can be filed with the chancery clerk’s office. The person filing the affidavit will need to specify if the commitment is for psychiatric or substance use treatment. A determination will be made by a judge whether an individual requires outpatient or inpatient treatment.
Once a person is committed to Mississippi State Hospital, the Chancery Court sends the required legal documents to the MSH Admissions Department. Each individual served by MSH receives care from an interdisciplinary team of professionals who provide medical, nursing, social, psychological, educational, dietician, and recreational services. Occupational, physical, and speech therapies are provided, if needed. Chaplain services are available. For a smooth transition from the hospital following treatment, discharge planning begins upon admission. No individual with unresolved felony charges may be admitted to MSH unless through special order by the Circuit Court.
Who We Serve:
MSH provides mental healthcare to adults and adolescents through Inpatient Services.
Adult Services:
*Acute Psychiatric Services are provided for adult men and women. These services are acute/short-term in duration and not long-term residential services.
*Substance Use Services (SUS) provides primary residential treatment to adult women and is short-term in duration. These services are provided for adult males at East Mississippi State Hospital.
Adolescent Services:
*Oak Circle Center offers an acute behavioral health program for adolescents experiencing emotional and/or behavioral problems at home, in school, and/or in the community. The goal is to provide individuals with evaluation and treatment to assist them in progressing to a higher level of functioning in order to continue treatment in a less restrictive environment.
*Oak Circle Center also offers a primary substance use treatment program for male and female adolescents who are engaging in harmful drug and alcohol use. The program employs evidence-based individual and group behavioral health interventions grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement, and Twelve-Step Facilitation. In addition to targeting substance use behaviors, the program evaluates and offers treatment for adolescents with co-occurring diagnoses, family/relational problems, and those impacted by trauma.
WHAT TO BRING:
*5 complete changes of clothing
*Glasses and/or hearing aids
*Family photos and mementos
*Spending money to deposit into a patient account
DO NOT BRING:
*Jewelry
*Weapons or sharp objects (e.g., pocketknife)
*Breakable glass items
*No personal care products containing alcohol
TRANSPORTATION
A person committed to MSH for psychiatric care has been determined to be a danger to self or others by the Chancery Court. For the patient’s safety, the county Sheriff’s Department provides transportation to the hospital. Individuals committed to the Substance Use Service are transported by their families unless they seek assistance from the Chancery Court for transportation by the Sheriff’s Department.
Click here for additional admissions information.