who we are

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Driven by a shared vision and passion, we are committed to addressing the critical issue of suicide prevention across Mississippi. In partnership with sponsors, organizations, communities, families, and concerned individuals, we will work to educate, empower, and collaborate - leveraging a peer advocacy framework to raise awareness and save lives. By joining forces, we aim to position our state as a national leader in comprehensive suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts that tangibly benefit the wellbeing of all Mississippians.

Recognizing that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10-24 and the 10th leading cause of death overall, we are committed to working diligently to end this epidemic. We will succeed by operating as a collaborative team with our communities, other progressive leaders, organizations, agencies, and volunteers who share the goal of suicide prevention. MAtES operates with the understanding that suicide is preventable, though current statistics may underreport the true scale of the problem by 10-15%. This unacceptable situation demands urgent, coordinated action.