Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

06/17/2026

Supporting someone with PTSD does not mean having the perfect words or trying to fix what they are carrying. Loved ones are not expected to have all the answers, and that support from family and friends is important for people with PTSD.

Start by listening. Let them know you are here, and that it is okay if they are not ready to talk yet. Validate their experience without minimizing it, and offer simple choices instead of pressure: “Do you want to talk, take a walk, or do something grounding together?”

Support is not therapy, but connection can still help. Relationships and social support can help protect against PTSD and can reduce isolation, stress, guilt, and depression.

Save this post, share it with someone who may need it, and remember: you do not have to fix everything to show up for someone. If you or someone you know in Tennessee needs help now, call or text 988 and press 0 to reach a trained crisis counselor. Tennessee also offers 24/7/365 statewide mobile crisis services, walk-in centers, and crisis stabilization resources.

Source references: VA National Center for PTSD, Helping a Family Member Who Has PTSD and Relationships; Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Crisis Services & Su***de Prevention and 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

06/15/2026

Asking for help is a sign of strength. So is being the kind of friend who makes that step easier. Check in, listen, and remind the people in your life that they do not have to go through hard moments alone.

06/12/2026

Project Rural Recovery rolls on!

Thanks to an investment from the Rural Health Transformation Program, we’re expanding our Project Rural Recovery footprint to ten more rural, underserved counties. The Announcement of Funding to add two new mobile clinics serving five counties each is open now through July 6.

Project Rural Recovery mobile clinics are a transformational way to deliver integrated behavioral health and physical health services in rural counties where options are limited. More than 7,300 Tennesseans have received care across more than 22,000 clinic visits since the program started in 2020. In our surveys of patients, 1 in 3 said hadn’t seen a primary care physician in more than 5 years, and 2 in 5 said they wouldn’t have received any care if the mobile clinic was unavailable.

We’re grateful for the partnership of the Tennessee Department of Health and the leadership of Gov. Bill Lee, and we’re excited to contribute to the life-changing impact of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Learn more at this link: https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/department-funding-opportunities.html

06/11/2026

What if you had a new opportunity each day to change someone's life for the better? That's what excited Amber about her role as a CPRS-J.

06/11/2026

So grateful for Nikki and Brittany and all of our amazing Lifeliners and other Certified Peer Recovery Specialists doing this life saving outreach and referral work across the state! If you need help, treatment is available even if you can't afford it. Call or text 800-889-9789.

With Tennessee's statewide ban on kratom set to take effect July 1, one peer recovery group is working to connect people struggling with the substance to treatment before the deadline arrives.

06/10/2026

After a traumatic experience, reactions like feeling on edge, having trouble sleeping, replaying what happened, or avoiding reminders can be common. For many people, those responses lessen with time. PTSD is different: symptoms last longer than a month and begin to interfere with daily life, including work, relationships, or home life.

PTSD symptoms are often grouped into categories: re-experiencing, avoidance, or reactivity, and changes in mood or cognition. The good news is that treatment works, and effective options are available. You are not alone, and support is available.

Save this post, share it with someone who may need it, and help reduce stigma through understanding. If you need help now in Tennessee, call or text 988 and press 0 to connect with a crisis counselor.

Source references for the slides:
NIMH, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Events and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); VA National Center for PTSD, PTSD Basics and Understanding PTSD Treatment; Tennessee State Government, 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

06/09/2026

New collab just dropped!

We're so grateful to Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival for their $100,000 donation to support school-based mental health services in NINE schools across Coffee County. This investment will create dedicated spaces for therapy and wellness which will be used by our School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons, school social workers, and other mental health professionals.

“We see such tremendous outcomes with our School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons. Students get the help they need and get back to class resulting in improved outcomes for behavior, attendance, graduation, and educational attainment. This funding from Bonnaroo leverages the state’s investment in this life-changing program, and we are so grateful to Secretary of State Tre Hargett for seeing the opportunity to connect our organizations and giving us the opportunity to create this collaboration,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW.

We couldn't do this without the partnership of Volunteer Behavioral Health, Manchester City School District, Coffee County Schools, TN, and Tullahoma City Schools.

Learn more: TN.gov/behavioral-health/sbbhl

06/09/2026

Support can start with one text. Whether you’re offering help or asking for it, honest words can open the door to connection.

To offer help:
“No need to respond fast — I’m here.”
“Want to talk or just sit in silence?”
“Can I help you find support today?”

To ask for help:
“I’m not doing okay and could use someone right now.”
“Can I talk to you about something heavy?”
“I don’t know what I need, but I need support.”

You don’t need the perfect words to reach out. You just need to start. Call or text 988 for immediate support.

06/07/2026

It can be hard to trust anyone when you think the system is stacked against you and no one believes you can change. Taylor knows what that feels like, and now she uses her CPRS-J training and her experience in the criminal justice system to help others like her build trust and rebuild their lives.

06/06/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD can affect anyone, and healing does not always look the same for everyone. This month is about raising awareness, reducing stigma, and reminding those living with PTSD that support is available and recovery is possible. If you are struggling, know that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988.