Tennessee mental health agency reports 988 usage, crisis diversion and school programs

At a practice meeting of the House Population Health Subcommittee, leaders from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse summarized crisis services, 988 lifeline usage and investments in community and school-based behavioral health programs.

A department presenter (identified in the transcript as the department commissioner’s office) described the department’s mission and noted data showing widespread need for services: officials said 43,000 calls to the 988 lifeline came from Tennessee numbers in fiscal year 2024, along with about 9,000 texts and chats. The department also reported roughly 17,000 crisis-line calls through other statewide crisis numbers; officials said the combined contacts approach 70,000 and that crisis assessments led to diversion from inpatient hospitals in about 63% of completed assessments.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Yancey, who the presenter identified as overseeing community behavioral health programs, said the state had implemented mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units and walk-in…