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In this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey brings back Canopy CEO, John Damon to discuss the current mental health challenges facing our nation, avenues to get help for both adults and children, and ways to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Damon’s clinical and executive leadership experience spans more than 25 years. Joining Canopy in 1993, he has been the Chief Executive Office since 2013. Damon is a Fellow of the fifth class of the Health Innovators Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He is a board member of the Mississippi Business Group on Health. He was selected as a Top CEO by the Mississippi Business Journal. John currently serves on the Mississippi Children’s Justice Commission. John has also served on other committees including the Governor’s Healthcare Task Force, the Mental Health Task Force (chair), Mississippi’s Children’s Mental Health Task Force, and the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mississippi College, a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary, and earned his doctorate in Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from Jackson State University. He completed his residency in Child Psychology at University of Mississippi Medical Center. John and his wife are proud parents of five children.

Watch Marshall’s previous interview with John.


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Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today’s Editor-At-Large. He’s also host of a weekly statewide radio program and a television program on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award.