Mental Health Services

For information about TennCare’s coverage of mental health services, see Medical Insurance & Financing.

Emergency Services

CONTACT Care Line Crisis Care Line/National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

P.O. Box 4641, Oak Ridge, 37831-4641
Supportive, nonjudgmental listening with referrals to other agencies when appropriate. Phones answered 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. Lifeline Crisis Chat can be accessed at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.

Crisis Stabilization Unit: 541-6958

A service of McNabb Center
Provides non-hospital, facility-based services that render short-term treatment to facilitate access to services and stabilization to prevent acute psychiatric hospitalization. Will provide these services on a voluntary status to adults (18+) who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders that are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

Mobile Crisis Unit: 539-2409

A service of McNabb Center
Provides 24-hour crisis response system for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Provides assessment, triage, and access to appropriate levels of care. Triage staff will determine if caller needs to be seen face to face. If caller needs to be seen, a master’s level clinician will meet the client in-person or via video conference to determine level of care needed.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Suicide prevention line. 24 hours, 365 days/year.

Geriatric Assessment Units

These hospital units evaluate older adults with medical, behavioral, mood or memory problems and provide short- term inpatient treatment. Medicare, TennCare, private insurance, and private pay. See Assessment.

Information and Advocacy

Disability Rights TN: 1-800-342-1660

9050 Executive Park Drive, Suite 101 B, 37923 Advocates for legal rights of persons with disabilities, and investigates abuse and neglect of persons with mental illness in institutions and facilities.

Mental Health Association of East TN, Inc.: 584-9125

9050 Executive Park Drive, Suite 104-A, 37923 (street) P.O. Box 32731, 37930-2731 (mailing)
Specializes in mental health education, referrals to mental health and addiction treatment services, and client advocacy. Assistance includes free mental illness screenings and client support via the Peer Recovery Call Center (same number) open 8:30 am – 5 pm. Website (www.mhaet.com) includes resources about mental health conditions, stress, anxiety, depression, etc.; offers free and anonymous screenings. Call to report problems with access to mental health services; advocates with service providers to help get treatment access.

Ongoing Mental Health Treatment & Counseling

See also Counseling. Many home health care agencies and nursing homes provide mental health services, including monitoring medication levels, behavior management education, and counseling (in home or facility).

Cherokee Health Systems

Provides mental health services, including counseling, alcohol and substance abuse treatment and MAT. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. For those who have no insurance, offers services on a sliding fee scale based on patient’s household size and income.

Fifth Avenue: 525-2104
538 Fifth Avenue, 37917
Mon.-Fri., 7:30 am – 5 pm.

Center City: 544-0406
2018 Western Avenue, 37921
Mon.-Fri.., 8 am-8 pm; Sat., 8 am-4 pm.

East Knox: 522-6097
2202 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 37915
Mon.- Fri., 8 am-5 pm.

North Knoxville: 947-6220
714 Connor Rd., Suite 105, Powell, 37849
Mon., 7:30 am – 6 pm, Tues., 7:30 am – 7 pm, Wed., 7:30 am – 6 pm, Thurs., 7:30 am – 5:30 pm, & Fri., 8 am- 5 pm

McNabb Center: 637-9711

205 W. Springdale Avenue, 37917
Integrated mental health care system, substance abuse/ addiction treatment, services including prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Patients can be referred by self, family, or professionals. TennCare, Medicare, and commercial insurance, uninsured individuals may be eligible through the Safety Net program.

Peninsula Outpatient Centers: 970-9800

Member of Covenant Health
1451 Dowell Springs Boulevard, Suite 101, 37909 Counseling, medication management, case management, support groups, recovery programs. Insurance, private pay.

Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association: 1-615-250-1176

3931 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, 37216
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Non-Clinical, Psycho Social Rehabilitation for TennCare beneficiaries, age 18+, with a mental health diagnosis. Advocate on staff to help those with TennCare whose mental health care needs are not being met. Offers classes in independent living skills, coping skills, health and wellness, self-advocacy, creative expression and more. Mon. – Fri., 8 am – 4 pm.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

These programs specialize in emotional health recovery and substance abuse issues for people who need less intensive treatment than inpatient hospital programs but more intensive than is provided in traditional outpatient programs. Medicare, TennCare, private insurance, private pay. For those that provide intensive outpatient programs, see Ongoing Mental Health Treatment & Counseling section above.