31 Miss. Code. R. 9-2.12 - Mental Health Services

1. Facility shall contract with Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP) to provide appropriate mental health assessments and mental health services to youth referred by staff as needing mental health services.

2. Youth with identified mental and/or behavioral health needs upon shall receive an evaluation by a QMHP and ongoing mental health services in accordance with a treatment plan. The treatment plan includes:

a. Identification of the mental and/or behavioral health issues.

b. Any medication or medical course of action to be pursued.

c. Planned activities to monitor the efficacy of any medication or the possibility of side effects.

d. A description of any behavioral management plan or strategies to be undertaken.

e. A description of any counseling or psychotherapy to be provided.

f. A determination of whether the type or level of treatment can be provided in the detention facility.

g. A plan for monitoring the course of treatment.

h. Any necessary modifications to the standard use of force and restraint procedures.

i. A transition plan for when the youth leaves the care of the facility.

3. Staff shall investigate all incidents of self-harm or attempted self-harm. Following any incident of self-harm, a QMHP prepares a detailed care and support plan for the youth. Staff also review the results of the investigation and institute any remedial measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

4. Staff encourage youth who are assessed as vulnerable or at risk of self-harm to engage in appropriate activities and programs that will raise their self-esteem and reduce the risk of further self-harming behavior.

5. Twenty-four hour on-call or emergency mental health services are accessible as needed.

6. Psychiatric, psychological, and psychiatric nursing shall be accessible as needed.

7. If the facility relies on health staff who are not QMHPs to provide any mental health service otherwise permitted by state law (e.g., screening interviews), the responsible mental health authority, in conjunction with the facility, is to ensure that those health staff have received adequate training in identifying and interacting with individuals in need of mental health services.

8. Youth at risk for suicide.

a. Written policies, procedures, and actual practices ensure that youth are appropriately assessed and treated for suicide risk. This system includes the principles listed below:

i. All staff working with youth receive training on recognition of behavioral and verbal cues indicating vulnerability to suicide, and what to do in case of suicide attempts or suicides (e.g., the use of a cut-down tool for youth hanging).

ii. The admissions screening addresses suicide risk through interview questions and observation.

iii. QMHPs evaluate suicide risk.

iv. Youth at risk of suicide receive prompt evaluation and frequent follow-up by QMHPs.

v. Staff document contemporaneously the monitoring of youth on suicide watch.

vi. Staff monitor actively suicidal youth one-on-one on a continuous basis or transfer youth to an appropriate facility. Youth who have been on continuous one-to-one monitoring for 24 hours are assessed as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours following such a 24-hour one-to-one monitoring period, by a physician or QMHP to determine whether there is a need for hospitalization.

vii. QMHPs provide clear, current information about the status of youth on suicide watch to staff supervising youth.

viii. Staff do not substitute supervision aids, such as closed-circuit television or placement with roommates, for in-person one-on-one staff monitoring.

ix. Youth at risk of suicide are engaged in social interaction and are not isolated. Youth on all levels of suicide precautions (based on level of risk) have an opportunity to participate in school and activities (e.g., with the one-on-one staff person).

x. Youth on suicide watch are not left naked and are housed appropriately.

xi. Only a QMHP may release a youth from suicide watch or lower a youth's level of precautions. QMHPs return youth to normal activity as soon as possible.

xii. Youth released from suicide watch have an individualized plan of care that is followed by QMHPs and communicated to all staff who come into contact with the youth.

xiii. Suicides or attempts at suicide are carefully documented and there is a process for administrative/medical review and staff debriefing after each such occurrence.

b. Staff promptly notify parent(s) or guardian(s) following any incident of suicidal behavior or self-harm.

Notes

31 Miss. Code. R. 9-2.12

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 43-21-901 to 43-21-915 (Rev. 2016).

Adopted 12/28/2019