The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse today unveiled the new Fast Facts data portal. The redesign of this popular feature allows visitors to TN.gov to interact with data that touches all facets of the department’s mission and vision.

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in Tennessee. One in five Tennessee adults experiences a mental illness in a given year.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is proud to announce that the team from Brentwood High School won the viewer-voted Tennessee Together Teen public service announcement competition.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today joined Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson to encourage Tennesseans to make an impact on the state’s opioid crisis by cleaning out their expired or unwanted medications on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The biannual event urges citizens to find the medications in their homes, including prescription opioids, and safely and securely dispose of them. During the most recent national take back event last October, Tennesseans disposed of more than 68,000 pounds of medication.

Tennessee is one of 19 states selected for a new training and support program to improve the social, emotional, and mental health of babies, toddlers, and young children. A group of leaders from several state agencies and other stakeholders led by the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) will participate in a year-long series of sessions with ZERO TO THREE.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced his approval of recommendations submitted by the school safety working group he appointed earlier this month to make immediate enhancements to school safety. The working group identified three immediate priorities: 1. A review and risk assessment of all school facilities to identify vulnerabilities; 2.An increase in available resources to help secure school resource officers (SROs); and 3. A statewide technology application for anonymous reporting of security threats.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has awarded its first-ever Alternative Transportation Pilot Project grant to Madison County Government. The grant amount of $333,000 will address the transportation requirements of people in need of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Terry Holmes to Chief Medical Officer.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced he has formed a working group of leaders from the executive branch, General Assembly, safety, education and mental health to immediately begin reviewing school safety in Tennessee and provide recommendations to enhance the security of school children. While all schools in Tennessee currently have safety plans in place, the Governor’s School Safety Working Group will convene this week to review the policies, procedures and process of developing and implementing those plans, as well as other school safety measures, including communication and collaboration among law enforcement, educators and mental health professionals.

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today recognized 22 state employees for providing outstanding service to the state and their fellow Tennesseans at a luncheon at the Tennessee Residence. The Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards was launched in 2016 to honor outstanding state employees who are helping Tennessee lead by providing efficient and effective state services every day.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday named members to the Tennessee Commission on Pain and Addiction Medicine Education. The commission, established by executive order as part of the TN Together plan to help end the opioid epidemic, is charged with developing competencies for Tennessee’s medical educational institutions to address proper treatment for pain, safe and effective prescribing practices, and proper diagnoses and treatment for individuals abusing or misusing controlled substances. Once developed, the competencies shall be available for adoption by Tennessee’s medical educational institutions for best-in-class training for Tennessee’s future doctors, nurses, dentists and other prescribers.

NASHVILLE – Joined by leadership from the House and Senate and Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday announced an aggressive and comprehensive plan to end the opioid epidemic in Tennessee by focusing on three major components: prevention, treatment and law enforcement. TN Together is a multi-faceted initiative that addresses the issue of opioid addiction through legislation, proposed funding in the governor’s 2018-19 budget and executive actions. TN Together is a collective effort and has been designed in partnership with the General Assembly through the Ad Hoc Opioid Abuse Task Force established by Speaker Beth Harwell and chaired by Speaker Pro Tem Curtis Johnson and a working group established by Haslam that included Harwell and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally’s appointee, Speaker Pro Tem Ferrell Haile.

A program to support families with children, adolescents, and young adults as they address mental health concerns is expanding into seven new counties. The expansion of the System of Care Across Tennessee (SOCAT) initiative builds on a program that was established in October 2016 by a 4-year, $12 million federal grant.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is reorganizing one of its divisions under new leadership and adding a new deputy commissioner and a new assistant commissioner.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) has announced the recipients of the Pre-Arrest Diversion Infrastructure Grants.