TDMHSAS is excited to announce the creation of four new Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) and Crisis Walk-In Centers. When the additional locations enter service later this year and early next year, the state’s already robust crisis services capacity will be expanded to a total of 12 centers.

Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council is making the first payments from opioid lawsuit settlements to counties totaling more than $31.4 million.

TDMHSAS is releasing new data showing the response to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the state. There were about 21,000 Tennessee calls to 988 in the last six months of 2022. That’s an increase of about 500 calls per month over the previous 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number.

TDMHSAS is excited to announce applications are open for about $15 million in state funding to create affordable, permanent supportive housing for Tennesseans living with behavioral health challenges.

TDMHSAS is passing a milestone in the journey of peer support. Tennessee now has more than 1,000 people with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges who are trained and currently certified to use their past to help others on the road to recovery.

TDMHSAS is excited to expand a proven program for reversing drug overdoses and connecting patients to addiction treatment to more parts of the state. The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance is providing a $6,000,000, 3-year grant to expand the program.

TDMHSAS is expanding its substance use prevention services with funding for three additional organizations. With new funding extended to Substance Use Prevention Coalitions in Wilson, Cannon, and Greene Counties, TDMHSAS funds 46 coalitions across the state.

TDMHSAS is encouraging all Tennesseans to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. local time.

TDMHSAS is receiving a new five-year, $3,000,000 grant to support families and children affected by opioids and other substance misuse. The Regional Partnership Grant through the Federal Administration for Children and Families is designed to increase the well-being, improve permanency, and enhance safety of children who are in or are at risk of out of home placement due to a parent or caregiver’s opioid or other substance misuse.

TDMHSAS is receiving new grant funding to continue a mental health program for youth and young adults in Shelby County. A $400,000 federal grant through SAMHSA will allow the department to continue the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) program in Memphis.

TDMHSAS is excited to welcome Mary Shelton as the Executive Director of Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council. As Executive Director, Shelton provides day-to-day leadership, management, and oversight for the functions of the Council, directly supports Council members, and will supervise Council staff.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Department of Health today issued new guidance and information around fentanyl and what to do in case of a potential exposure.

Tennessee’s Project Rural Recovery is growing. Thanks to $6.3 million budgeted in the current fiscal year by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, Project Rural Recovery is expanding to ten new counties.

A top leader in the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has been selected to the next cohort of a prestigious fellowship program.

“We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.” As I recently read those words about one of the best singer-songwriters in my lifetime, I was struck by how many people are struggling with untreated mental illness across our great state and how many families have experienced a similar tragic loss of life. A loss that in many cases might have been prevented if they knew about the mental health supports that are available. Supports that I would like to focus on for this Month of Mental Health Awareness.