Surgeon General calls for warning labels on social media platforms
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels on social media, citing concerns about children’s mental health.
Finding help when you’re struggling with your mental health can feel daunting, especially when you’re young.
The good news is a wide variety of options for support and treatment exist in Tennessee and nationwide. Not sure where to get started? Here are several places to find support on the local, state and national level.
State-based youth mental health resources in Tennessee
Schools are a good place to start for students who need mental health support. School counselors and other mental health support staff, along with teachers, administrators and other school leaders, can help point you in the right direction.
Tennessee also has a wide variety of state-funded programs for children and young adults of all ages. Here are just a few:
- Behavioral health safety net: A program that provides mental health services for children ages 3-17 who do not have insurance.
- Homeless services for children and youth: The state offers support for children who experience homelessness to help with housing and keeping families together.
- Early intervention: Tennessee has an early intervention system that offers services for younger children who have disabilities or developmental delays from birth until when they start school.
- Crisis services: Tennessee offers a statewide mental health crisis line, which can be reached at 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471). Several agencies work together to evaluate and assist children up to age 18. Learn more at tn.gov/crisisline.
Learn more about the wide variety of mental health services Tennessee offers for youth and others at TN.gov/behavioral-health.
The National Suicide and Crisis Hotline can also be reached by calling or texting 988, or by visiting 988lifeline.org. It is available 24-7.
More mental health resources in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to a variety of organizations that offer mental health support for youth. The Mental Health Cooperative, Centerstone and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Tennessee are just a few organizations that offer services in locations across the state.
Learn more about the Mental Health Cooperative at mhc-tn.org. More information on Centerstone can be found at centerstone.org/locations/tennessee. Details on the National Alliance on Mental Illness Tennessee can be found at NamiTN.org.
The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations also offers an interactive map where you can search by county for community-based mental health services at tamho.org.
