Spotlight on TDMHSAS: Leading the Charge in Community Mental Health and Recovery
Across the state, more people are speaking up about their mental health and substance use needs, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is helping meet that need with strong leadership, creative solutions, and a people-first approach.
TDMHSAS works through a wide network of services that support people at every stage of need, from early prevention and crisis care to long-term recovery. Their programs are designed to help Tennesseans get care that fits their lives and meets them where they are.
Some of their standout efforts include placing behavioral health staff in schools, expanding crisis support, and training peer recovery specialists, people with lived experience who now support others on their journey to recovery. These efforts bring together state resources and local communities to reduce stigma, strengthen support, and promote overall wellness.
Innovative programs like the Behavioral Health Safety Net, Recovery Courts, and the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists (ROPS) show how TDMHSAS is rethinking care. They’re using new tools like telehealth, improving housing options, and creating systems that treat the whole person, not just the symptoms.
TDMHSAS is more than a safety net. It’s a driving force behind better care, stronger communities, and a future where everyone has the chance to live well, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Learn more or find support near you at tn.gov/behavioral-health.