Mississippi

Mississippi leadership academy for wellness and smoking cessation

Mississippi was the 8th state to hold a Leadership Academy on Wellness and Smoking Cession. On the evening of May 1 and all day May 2, 2013, thirty-three leaders in public health, behavioral health, and tobacco control came together for a first-ever Mississippi initiative focused on reducing smoking prevalence among people with behavioral health disorders. The summit was held by the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control (OTC), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) as part of the Leadership Academies for Wellness and Smoking Cessation.

The summit began with dinner and a persuasive Gallery Walk.  Stephanie McCladdie, the Regional Administrator of SAMHSA Region IV, said Mississippi is ahead of the game and that SAMHSA has learned a lot about the state. She added, “We are committed to Mississippi and we are delighted to have the academy here. You are pioneers in tobacco, doing great work in outreach across the state.”

Roy Hart, the Director of the Office of Tobacco Control, stated, “Normally we don’t get to see the sheer number of people who have taken this issue to heart. The bottom line is changing behaviors to better people’s lives.”

Jerri Avery, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services, commented that while dialogue about smoking among behavioral health populations started some time ago, the agency has not yet actively addressed tobacco dependence in this population. She stressed the importance of creating targeted strategies and connecting services with the Office of Tobacco Control.

At the end of the first evening, Royal Walker, Jr., the Executive Director of the Institute of Disability Studies, reaffirmed the purpose of the summit. “Tomorrow, the real work starts. Roll up your sleeves and be present. There is nothing more important than saving lives.”

The selected baseline was the rate of cigarette smoking among adults in Mississippi with mental illness, 37.2% (2011 BRFSS data). The catchphrase for the target was “5 by 5.” In other words, reduce cigarette smoking among Mississippians with mental illnesses by 5% over the next 5 years, from 37.2% to 32.2%, by 2018.

 

Mississippi partners adopted seven strategy groups to develop collaborative approaches to achieve the target:

  • Data Development, Analysis and Dissemination
  • Legislation and Policy
  • Media and Messaging
  • Medicaid
  • Outreach and Consumer Education
  • Provider Education
  • Youth Cessation

The goals of the Academies are to reduce smoking and nicotine addiction among behavioral health consumers and staff, to stimulate cooperation and collaboration among the fields of public health, including tobacco control and prevention, mental health, addiction treatment and prevention.