We must prepare for Tennessee’s rising mental health crisis
More than 4,128 Tennesseans have died from COVID-19. There have been over 280,000 total cases. Chattanooga, where I live, has been especially hard hit — it’s even been used as a case study of what not to do during a pandemic.
Our mental health has also been deteriorating
The suicide rate in Tennessee has increased by 24% over the past six years, and COVID-19 is exacerbating underlying mental health issues even further.
In Tennessee alone, almost one third of adults are experiencing symptoms of depression on a weekly basis, compared to the national average of 24.5%.
It’s devastating to see the impact COVID-19 has had on our nation and our community.
But we must remember that all hope is not lost, and that as uncertain as unpredictable as this year has been, there are still things that are in our control.
One thing we can control is our response to Tennessee’s escalating mental health crisis, because beginning to combat it starts with each of us being honest and open about how we’re feeling. We need to know that it’s okay to not be okay, and to not be afraid to ask for help if we need it.
We must also check in on our friends, family and community members, especially those who have a history of depression or struggles with substance use. Letting them know that we are there to help takes minutes, but it has the potential to save lives. And the holiday season is an excellent time to check in.
We can’t be afraid to lean on one another
There are a variety of resources we can provide to assist those in need. Tennessee’s mental health agency operates a helpline that can be reached at 855-2747471 or by texting “TN” to 741-741, and more local resources can be found on the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse’s website. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline are also available.
If you are an area employer, straightforward actions on your part can have a huge impact, too – particularly when it comes to insurance coverage and care delivery. A big barrier to individuals receiving mental health care is coverage – though there is a mental health parity law that requires insurers to provide equal coverage for these services the issue is rarely enforced.
Making sure the insurance products you’re purchasing are compliant with mental health parity, then communicating that information to employees or purchasing a different plan—ideally one with onsite primary care and mental health services—is a great way for you to immediately do your part.
As we were recently reminded, our voice is our vote, and our vote matters
It’s both our civic duty and our moral duty to push for public policy that ensures the enforcement of mental health parity, and that seeks to better integrate mental health care into the places where individuals are most likely to present with a mental health need, from doctors’ offices to schools and beyond.
Fortunately, Tennessee has financial resources at its disposal.
In October, the state was awarded a $7.2 million federal grant to address the escalating mental health and addiction concerns caused by the pandemic, and that endowment was followed by a separate $750,000 award to enhance suicide prevention efforts statewide.
But at the end of the day, if each of us don’t do our part, all the efforts that money supports will be for naught——and the outcome particularly grim. There were more than 4,600 preventable deaths of despair in Tennessee due to drugs, alcohol, and suicide in 2018, and in the next decade, assuming the economy recovers relatively quickly, we could see that number surpass 6,000.
Pumping funds into a system that is broken won’t fix the problems plaguing mental health care.
We need to create a new infrastructure to support our fellow Tennesseans who are struggling, and together, we can start doing that right now. We must.
Dr. Benjamin F. Miller, Psyd, is the chief strategy officer for Well Being Trust and an advisory board member of Inseparable, two of the nation’s leading mental health organizations.