Mississippi State Hospital (Whitfield)

Governor AG Brown made the first public proposition to establish a hospital for the insane in 1846. In 1848, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated funds for the original facility, which opened in 1855 at the present site of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. In 1900, the name of the hospital was changed from "Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum" to "Mississippi State Insane Hospital." In 1935, the psychiatric hospital was moved to the community of Howell which was then the site of the state penal colony. Located near the current towns of Brandon, the area was renamed "Whitfield" in honor of Gov. Henry L Whitfield.

When it opened on March 4, 1935, the main hospital and buildings covered the 350 acres it presently occupies. The remainder of the 3,333-acre tract was devoted to general farming, dairying, pastures, orchards and truck farms [i.e., vegetable fields] during the early and mid-1900s. Seventy of the more than 100 buildings on campus were constructed between 1926 and 1935. They were built along a cottage type plan in a colonial design with red brick and white columns and trim. Some were built with a cupola on top. The last original cupola still sits atop the administration building and has become the logo for the hospital.

For Inpatient Services and Community Services, MSH serves the needs of people with mental illness in the western two thirds of Mississippi, covering 51 of the state's 82 counties. This represents approximately 1.6 million Mississippi citizens. Statewide admissions are taken for forensic treatment and females in need of chemical dependency treatment. Jaquith Nursing Home's catchment area includes the United States . Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital 's catchment area is MSH and any other facility operated by DMH.

Mississippi State Hospital is a publicly funded psychiatric treatment facility operated under the direction of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. The hospital is located on a 350-acre campus in Whitfield, MS, 15 miles southeast of Jackson, the state capital. Mississippi State Hospital has 915 licensed psychiatric beds and is accredited by the Joint Commission. The facility also includes 418 licensed nursing home beds and provides a variety of community service programs.




Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) facilitates improvement in the quality of life for Mississippians who are in need of psychiatric, chemical dependency or nursing home services by rehabilitating to the least restrictive environment utilizing a range of psychiatric and medical services that reflect the accepted standard of care and are in compliance with statutory and regulatory guidelines.



Mississippi State Hospital does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in admission, treatment or participation in its programs, services and activities or in employment.

Acute psychiatric services at MSH consists of one female unit (building 63), and two male units (buildings 201 & 203). Treatment includes an intensive short-term care program of medical, psychological, educational and social interventions. Emphasis is placed on providing the patient with information concerning psychiatric conditions, medication usage, living and coping skills, and leisure skills as well as incorporation of discharge planning to facilitate the patient's successful discharge to the least restrictive and most therapeutically integrated environment.

Buildings 87 and 39 house our medical psychiatric services. Medical psychiatric treatment includes addressing the needs of individuals whose acute psychiatric treatment is complicated by one or more significant medical conditions in addition to treatment as described previously in acute psychiatric treatment.

Buildings 35, 36, 45, 49, 83 and 90 house our continued treatment services (CTS). T reatment is provided for persons in need of longer-term psychiatric care. Programs focus on patient strengths and abilities, not disabilities, in order to help them cope with psychiatric or co-occurring psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Programs are designed to facilitate the patient's successful transition from an inpatient setting to community living whenever possible. Program components emphasize individualized, psychosocial rehabilitation, which may include health and hygiene, communication skills, coping skills, medication management, nutrition and food preparation, home management, work skills and recreation/leisure skills. Instruction may also be provided in the use of transportation, comparative shopping, money management and use of community resources.

The Chemical Dependency Unit consists of one female treatment building (81) and one male building (84). Treatment includes a specialized medical detoxification program, basic medical care, group therapy, counseling, family conferences, motivational interviewing and introduction to 12-Step Recovery.

Oak Circle Center (Building 23) houses our Child and Adolescent Services. The primary function of Child and Adolescent Services is diagnostic evaluation and short-term treatment for children and adolescents. Specialized services are provided for children and adolescents who may have impaired emotional, social, psychological or academic functioning. Education services are provided through Lakeside School (Building 25).

The primary function of Forensic Services is evaluation of pre-trial defendants to determine competency to stand trial. Additionally, Forensic Services provides treatment to a smaller percentage of Circuit Court patients who are being restored to competency. Forensic staff provide expert testimony to the Circuit Court based on the evaluation results and other professional experience or information.