Did you know that Peer Support is an evidence-based practice?

Scientific studies have shown that Peer Support decreases morbidity rates, improves self-sufficiency, improves self-care skills, and drastically reduces the need for emergency services and hospital stays.

Here are a few studies about the Power of Peer Support:

There are currently 161 Certified Peer Support Specialists in Mississippi. 66% work full-time.

Of the 61,500 Mississippians receiving mental health services, only 1,045 have access to Peer Support Services.

Only 33 mental health providers in Mississippi offer Peer Support Services.

Mississippi CPSS Demographics:

The majority of CPSS’s in the state are between the ages of 35 and 59. 15% are under age 35, and 12% are over age 59.
71% of CPSS’s are female, 29% are male.

32% are Black/African American; 66% are White/Caucasian; 1% are Indian/Native American; 1% are Latino/Hispanic

54% have a college degree

72% earn less than $11 per hour

(Source: 2016 MDMH Think Recovery Peer Support Inititiaves Survey)

Snapshot of Mississippians Receiving Mental Health Services:

60% are White/Caucasian; 37% are Black/African American; 2% are Asian

1% are Mixed Race; 3% are Hispanic/Latino; >1% are Indian/Native American

45% have experienced Incarceration

10% are Veterans; 40% are Single-parents; 25% experience domestic violence;

23% live below poverty level; 4% experience chronic homelessness

Only 5% of Mississippians who experience Substance Use Disorders receive treatment

50% who experience Substance Use Disorder also experience Serious Mental Illness

Only 8% of people who receive treatment for Substance Use Disorder also receive treatment for co-occuring mental illness

(Sources: 2016 American Community Survey, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and MS Department of Corrections)