Welcome from the Founder

by Sidney Brown

Welcome to The Dakota Initiative blog! As the first to post, I wanted to explain the premise of this project, share a little about myself, and discuss the state of mental health in Mississippi.

What is the story behind The Dakota Initiative?

Dakota Rodgers is my brother, friend, confidante, ballet dancer, football player, pianist, skateboarder, and so much more. He truly was a jack of all trades, and he was the glue of our family. Everyone described him as kind and funny. No one would have guessed he was struggling with schizo-affective disorder. There were times that he acted out of norm, but we attributed it to being a growing teenager. As a family we held discussions and check-ins with one another on a frequent basis, yet my brother joined the Army, moved away, and became isolated where we could only check-in via phone call. That is when my brother had a psychotic break. This led to a two-year journey of us trying to find specialists, doctors, programs to help him, but in the U.S. it takes so much time and money to support mental health disorders. It is a 24/7 job, and no one truly understands that unless they experience it for themselves. You can imagine it is also stressful to the individual experiencing the mental health crisis.

Ultimately, in 2016, my brother passed by suicide, and our entire world changed. It left us questioning everything. At the end of the day, we lived in a world where mental health is the ultimate taboo. Even though it is an aspect of the whole person, mental health does not receive nearly enough support in society. Channeling the frustration and pain of this event in my life, I decided to be a part of the change. That is where The Dakota Initiative comes in. What once was a project started in my dorm room has evolved into health talks, tabling events, and social media outreach.

Who am I?

My name is Sidney Brown, and I have shared one of the hardest points in my life with thousands of individuals. I figure it is only fair for you to learn about the other aspects of myself. I have many labels: medical student, Mississippian (although this term is adopted as I have spent roughly 65% of my life here), military child, Miss Stone County Hospitality, founder of The Dakota Initiative, youtuber (with my 100 followers), SHPEP National Alumni Advisory Board Member, and many others. The most important label for myself is “sister.”

As for interests, I enjoy making videos for my family and friends. My channel is called “Sidney Ashton,” and I post content covering travel, school, and even pageants. Origami is a favorite past time, and I used it for the talent portion of two local Miss America pageant competitions. Furthermore, one of my favorite books is called The Teashop Girls, and it sparked my interest in brewing tea. I have various pots, cups, tea tins, spoons…you name it.

At the end of the day, I am Sidney, a sister and friend.

How is mental health in Mississippi?

According to Mental Health America 2023 Report, 21.06% of adult Mississippians have a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder.

That is 465,000 people. When I look at this number, I also think about the lack of mental health professionals in our state to support these individuals. As of 2022, the Bureau of Health Workforce listed 91 total mental health care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in Mississippi. This is extremely concerning, and it does not account for the other barriers as well: finances, support networks, stigma, etc. Now, how can we help those in Mississippi facing these challenges? Advocacy.

In the 118th Congress, there are four mental health bills introduced: Prevention For All, Early Identification And Intervention For Those At Risk, Integrated Treatment For Those Who Need It, and Recovery As The Goal. If you are passionate about these policies, Mental Health America helps citizens reach out to our state representatives via action alerts.

It is going to take time for us to make changes, but I am determined to help those in need. Mental health should not be ignored, and through this page and blog, I hope you can walk away with some hope.

You are valid. You belong. You are loved.