These MS schools chosen for ‘first-of-its-kind’ mental wellness program in state. What to know
A new program in Mississippi aims to provide mental wellness support for children in certain schools across the state.
The program, called Canopy Anywhere, is a “first-of-its-kind” mental wellness approach designed for students in grades 6-12, according to an Aug. 13 news release from the Office of Gov. Tate Reeves.
Canopy Anywhere was piloted in some schools in the Madison County School District in 2024, according to the release. It succeeded in identifying mental health needs for more than 20% of students who participated, officials said.
“Emotional and mental health play a major role in students’ academic success, and that’s why this initiative is so important,” Reeves said in the news release.
What does the MS program provide?
- Curriculum that’s proven to strengthen emotional wellness and goal-setting
- Self-guided weekly online wellness lessons
- Connections between students and caregivers for live support
- Resources for families
- Clinical screening and assessments in cases needing deeper support
How is it funded?
Canopy Anywhere is funded through a $16 million partnership between the Mississippi Development Authority and Canopy Children’s Solutions, a Mississippi-based mental health service provider.
“Canopy Anywhere can be accessed via devices already provided to students in schools, creating an effective, lower cost method for improving student mental health,” the Office of the Gov. said in the release.
What schools does it support?
Most of the 29 schools launching the program this fall are in low-and-moderate income districts, and the curriculum is set to expand to more districts the following year, according to the release.
Here are the MS schools that are starting the program off:
- Biloxi Public School District
- Claiborne County School District
- Clarksdale Municipal School District
- Coahoma County School District
- Corinth School District
- East Tallahatchie Consolidated School District
- Greenville Public School District
- Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District
- Gulfport School District
- Hattiesburg Public School District
- Holmes Consolidated School District
- Humphreys County School District
- Jackson Public School District
- McComb School District
- Meridian Public School District
- Natchez-Adams School District
- North Bolivar Consolidated School District
- North Panola School District
- North Tippah School District
- Quitman County School District
- South Delta School District
- Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District
- Sunflower County Consolidated School District
- Tunica County School District
- West Bolivar Consolidated School District
- West Tallahatchie School District
- Wilkinson County School District
- Winona-Montgomery Consolidated District
- Yazoo City Municipal School District
Mental health among Mississippi youth
Each year, 47,000 Mississippi adolescents between 12 and 17 years old undergo a depressive episode, with about 66% having serious thoughts of suicide, according to 2025 data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The ratio of psychologists to students in K-12 schools in Mississippi is 1 in 9,582 — more than 19 times worse than the recommended ratio of one school psychologist for every 500 students, the data found.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
