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Mental Health

You may have mental health treatment services as a condition in order to assist you in resolving mental health conditions that limit your life functioning, compliance with supervision, or stability in the community. Treatment may include services like psychological/psychiatric evaluations; individual, family, or group counseling; and medication designed to treat conditions that may range from anxiety and depression to more chronic disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or pedophilia.  The treatment requirement allows officers to identify, assess, monitor, and provide care in order to assist you in coping with any mental disease or defect. Below you will find generalnational, state/local, and advocacy and support group resource information that will help to that end.

GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION

suicide prevention information from the Center for Disease Control.

Psychiatric Medication Guide from the National Institute of Mental Health provides an exhaustive source of information on the types of medications used to treat mental disorders, side effects of medications, directions for taking medications, and includes any FDA warnings.

Mental Health Topics (NIMH) offers information on signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Substance Abuse-Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA

Medline Plus (NIH) offers a library of information on Mental Health

A great fact sheet about successful recovery from mental illness (Boston University).

NATIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS

Here is the National Locator of Mental Health Facilities (U.S. Department of HHS) and its search engine.

Additionally, the U.S. Dept. of HHS has a primary link to exhaustive information on mental health issues, access to treatment and services, programs, and organizations that provide assistance, and advocacy resources.

Here is a great web portal from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for information and resources to help those battling co-occurring disorders.

 The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a comprehensive web-based clearinghouse and portal on mental health issues and topics.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that also provide Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to individuals who are eligible.

The SSI/SSDI application process is complicated and difficult to navigate, particularly for people who are homeless or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons, or hospitals).  For those who have a mental illness, substance use issues, or co-occurring disorders that impair cognition, the application process poses an even greater challenge.  

SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is a national project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that is designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder. Using a 3-pronged approach of Strategic Planning, Training, and Technical Assistance (TA), the SOAR TA Center coordinates this effort at the state and community level.

VETERANS:

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs:  PTSD facility locator, mental services and information portal, a mental health treatment services locator, and a detailed document explaining mental health services within the VA.

CRISIS HOTLINE:   The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) also runs a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers, and others in the community.  To be connected with a trained VA staff member call 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838).

STATE/LOCAL RESOURCE INFORMATION

To learn more about community mental health services that are available in your area of Tennessee, please review the Tennessee Department of State Health Service is their "How to Get Help" page or contact your local mental health authority (LDMHSAS) directly. By contacting your local mental health authority, you will also be able to access their local information and referral line, which is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (These are also referred to as Crisis Hotlines.)  You can also access a list of local mental health authorities and their crisis hotlines.

Crisis Call & Walk-in Centers:
State Crisis Telephone Line: 1-800-274-7471
National Suicide Prevention LIFELINE: 1-800-273-8255

Johnson Mental Health Center: (Walk-In Center) 413 Spring Street, Chatanooga, TN
Plateau Mental Health Center: (Walk-In Center) 1200 South Willow Avenue, Cookeville, TN.

ADVOCACY, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND RELATED INFORMATION

SAMHSA's Resource Center to Address Discrimination & Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) provides information and advice on countering discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness

Persons suffering from mental illness and their family members will find the following advocacy groups, organizations, and associations very helpful:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Facts for Families
The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. The AACAP has produced the Facts for Families in English and Spanish.

Center for Mental Health Services' Knowledge Exchange Network
The National Mental Health Information Center was developed for users of mental health services and their families, the general public, policymakers, providers, and the media.

National Institute of Mental Health
The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to diminish the burden of mental illness through research.

NAMI - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

ADHD: A Place to Start
In particular, the information contained herein pertains to children that have a medical problem, emotional problem, developmental delays, ADHD and/or other neurological disorder.