Mississippi’s kids are undergoing a mental health crisis.  Consider that 2021 data shows that some 27,000 children aged 12-17 have depression and 67.3% did not receive any care in the last year.  Mental illnesses are common yet treatable, but too often those struggling go without proper treatment due to issues like access to care and stigmas surrounding mental illness. 

To combat these challenges, a week-long summer camp for teenage girls will be held in Laurel, Miss.  The “Mental Health Matters” summer camp experience will be open at no cost to teenage girls and will expose campers to innovative activities like equine therapy, arts and crafts, sporting activities, community service engagement, and other age-appropriate activities during the camp. 

The purpose of this experience is tri-fold: to give young adults hope, to build community with others, and to expose campers, parents, community members, and others to positive ideas related to mental health.