Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

A Blount County Community Health Initiative volunteer action team

The Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention team has focused on reducing the high suicide rate in Blount County by promoting awareness of suicide warning signs and of mental health resources available in the community. As the only Tennessee county to have current real-time numbers of confirmed and attempted suicides, Blount County has be able to show a reduction in suicides over the course of the last several years.

Comprehensive public education, training and access to care are the key issues addressed. Recent team efforts have centered on the rise in the number of suicides using lethal means, such as a gun. In suicide attempts where non-lethal means are used, there can be the opportunity for the person to change his or her mind and seek help.

The team helped develop a suicide prevention resource guide for the community. Click here to download the guide or get free copy by calling the Blount Memorial Emotional Health & Recovery Center at 865-981-2300.

Click here to download the Mental Health Resource Directory.