Tennesseans are pausing to remember International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31) after a year when sadly more people than ever died from a drug overdose. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health, and community groups across the state are holding memorials, trainings, and awareness events to remember the lives lost, celebrate the survivors of overdose, and empower Tennesseans to prevent deadly overdoses in their communities.

TDMHSAS is expanding OnTrack TN, Tennessee’s First Episode Psychosis Initiative to three new counties. Funding for this expansion is coming from federal COVID-19 pandemic response grants.

TDMHSAS is receiving more than $53 million in additional funding from the federal government to address post-COVID mental health and substance use needs. The supplemental block grant funding will add more than $27 million to mental health services and nearly $26 million to substance use services over the next four years.

TDMHSAS is releasing a new certification for peer support specialists designed specifically for young adults with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges. The Certified Young Adult Peer Support Specialist program is tailored to young adults in both design and language with a target age range of 18 to 30 and a requirement of one year in recovery.

Around the world and right here in Tennessee, we celebrate May as Mental Health Month. After the last year, the opportunity to pause, reflect, and evaluate our own mental health and that of the people in our lives has never been more important.

Tennesseans have a renewed opportunity to remove harmful and potentially-addictive prescription medication from their homes as a part of the upcoming 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event is ¬¬¬set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 24, 2021.

Tennessee’s Emotional Support Line for Pandemic Stress is adding a new method for people to reach out for help. The free and confidential line now has the capability to offer assistance via text message. Call or text 888-642-7886.

For your consideration, please see the following op-ed from Marie Williams, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

TDMHSAS is receiving a new federal grant to expand the System of Care Across Tennessee Network (SOCAT-N). The four-year, $12 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) expands SOCAT services to 13 new, rural counties for service availability in all 95 Tennessee counties.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and Department of Health are kicking off a new campaign centered around the risk of drug overdose and suicide during the winter holidays.

Tennessee moved up eleven spots to a ranking of 28th in responding to the mental health needs of its citizens according to the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report published by Mental Health America. The annual ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia examines data trends in various categories relating to prevalence of mental illness, substance use disorder, thoughts of suicide, and access to care for both adults and youth.

TDMHSAS is receiving a new federal grant to expand criminal justice alternatives for Tennesseans living with addiction. The $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will cover ten project sites including Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Cheatham, Cocke, Dickson, Grundy, Montgomery, Roane, and Tipton Counties.

New federal funding coming to Tennessee will continue a successful program in Sullivan County aimed at ending the cycle of drug overdose. The Sullivan County Overdose Response Team (SCORT) is receiving almost $900,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to continue its work for the next three years.

Tennesseans have an opportunity to safely and securely dispose of potentially addictive prescription medications at the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Take back events offer an opportunity for anyone to properly dispose of medications that are no longer needed or expired including potentially addictive prescription opioids.

TDMHSAS has secured an additional $7.2 million in federal grant funding to respond to mental health and addiction concerns caused by COVID-19 and recent natural disasters.