Letter from the President of the Board

June 30 marked the end of the fiscal year for NAMI-MS, providing us with the perfect opportunity to look back at our accomplishments and to look forward to our bright future.

One of the most impressive accomplishments of the past year was the tremendous number of classes and presentations we held all over the state. From July 1, 2020 through June 20, 2021, we offered an impressive 50 classes, compared to only 9 during the prior fiscal year. That’s an astounding 555% increase!

While we are indebted to all our teachers, two instructors deserve special praise. Jenny Drake and Deloris McGee together taught an amazing 17 Family and Friends classes this year, reaching 288 participants. What a dynamic pair of dedicated women!

Not only did we hold a record-setting number of classes, but we also dramatically increased the number of teachers trained, from 11 last year to 49 this year, more than a three-fold increase. With these additional individuals being trained, we are well-poised to spread NAMI’s message of hope throughout our state.

Not only did we hold a recordsetting number of classes, but we also dramatically increased the number of teachers trained...

As I look ahead to this year, I’m energized by a number of initiatives. One of the most exciting ones is the implementation of a 988 nationwide number of suicide prevention and mental health crises, which will be available across the country by July 2022. Calls to the 988 number will be routed to regional crisis call center hubs designed to connect people to services, which may include dispatching mobile crisis teams. Communities that have mobile crisis teams staffed by mental health professionals and peers saw a drastic reduction in the need for law enforcement involvement in mental health crises. It is my fervent hope that the implementation of 988 will prevent many of the tragedies that currently occur when mental health crises are treated like criminal offenses.

Whether we look backwards or forwards, NAMI’s reassurance that “you are not alone” can bring hope and comfort to each of us.

Mary Harrington, President

NAMI Mississippi Board of Directors