The Mississippi Department of Mental Health held its 9th annual Suicide Prevention Symposium at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, centering on the theme “Changing the Narrative by Sharing Our Stories.” The event brought together community members, advocates, and professionals to address suicide prevention through education, resource awareness, and personal testimony.
Executive Director Wendy Bailey emphasized that suicide prevention extends beyond clinical settings. “Suicide prevention is not just a clinical issue, it’s a community issue,” Bailey stated, noting the department’s goal to help people throughout the state understand warning signs and risk factors while learning how to connect people to resources. She highlighted that the department aims to maintain suicide awareness year-round rather than concentrating efforts in September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Teresa Mosley, whose daughter died by suicide in 2006, shared her perspective as both a survivor of loss and an advocate. Since her daughter’s death, Mosley has been dedicated to raising awareness among young people, adults, and school districts statewide. She currently dedicates her time to helping people access needed mental health services. Mosley underscored the importance of normalizing conversations around mental health through shared stories: “Mental illness is just as important as physical illness, and I just think it helps with awareness and makes people feel more comfortable and know that it’s everywhere. It affects everyone.”
Bailey reinforced that continuing open conversations about suicide helps people feel more comfortable seeking support. She noted that “behind every statistic there is a life,” emphasizing the human dimension of suicide prevention work. The symposium provided participants with information on warning signs and symptoms of suicide, available resources, and access to support from those with lived experience of loss.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.wlbt.com/2025/09/16/mississippi-department-mental-health-hosts-suicide-prevention-symposium/