Today I am showing my support for peer services in Mississippi!

Whereas:

1) Peer Support is a core and essential service for people in or seeking recovery.

2) Peer Support is an evidence-based practice as deemed by research by SAMHSA, Mental Health America, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the National Institute of Mental Health

3) Peer Support is only effective when driven and supported by the Mental Health community as a whole.

4) Because of the proven effectiveness of Peer Support, funding for Peer Support should be increased, and Peer Support Professionals should be considered essential personnel in all community-based mental health programs, and accessible to all Mississippians in or seeking recovery.

5) Peer Support and recovery-Oriented services are more cost-effective than our current medical-model system, and vastly improve the quality of people's lives.

We the undersigned request that the State of Mississippi protect Peer Support and Recovery-Oriented Services for Mississippians, and comply with the Olmstead Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We request that the State of Mississippi comply with Judge Reeve's and the US Dept. of Justice's recommendations to transform our state's mental health system.

We also request that the State of Mississippi cease their objections to these recommendations that are an unreasonable expense to Mississippi taxpayers and, more importantly, violate the civil rights of Mississippians in or seeking Mental Health services.