Jackson Free Press

Mayor Tony Yarber announced his support of reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in county jails on Tuesday. Yarber presented a resolution in his role of Mayor of the City of Jackson at a rally that the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, held at the Capitol on Tuesday.

"It is extremely important that we say out loud that we recognize and understand the seriousness of mental illness," Yarber said. "Particularly what our role is at the city of Jackson whether it has to do with interfacing of the police department with those in community who are afflicted with mental illness or making sure health policies are in place (so) that we are dealing with this issue."

NAMI estimates that 2 million people suffer from mental illnesses nationally. NAMI held the rally at the Capitol to bring awareness to the incarceration of people with mental illnesses. The organization, which is partially funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, is asking the state to step up its efforts to divert those with mental illnesses from jail and into treatment instead.

Yarber said that mental illness rates are much higher in jails than in the general public, and he said he is committed to "Stepping Up" to share lessons learned across counties and the state to work on making sure those suffering from mental illness in the community get the treatment and services they need instead of going to jail.