If you or someone you love is in danger right now, call or text 988, or call 911. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Help is one phone call away.
Suicide touches families in every corner of Tennessee, including Knoxville, Maryville, Alcoa and the rest of Blount County. It often happens during a season of heavy stress: an arrest, a divorce, a custody fight, a relapse, the loss of a job or a relationship. Because we work with people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives, we want our clients and neighbors to know that help is close by and that reaching out is a sign of strength.
This guide brings together the statewide and local resources that East Tennessee families can use today, along with practical steps for supporting someone who may be at risk.
Tennessee's Mobile Crisis Services are 24/7/365 response teams for adults, children and youth experiencing a mental health emergency. A crisis specialist can provide help by phone, complete a face-to-face or telehealth assessment, and arrange referral, stabilization and follow-up care.
In Blount County, as well as Knox, Loudon, Monroe and Sevier counties, mobile crisis services are provided by the Helen Ross McNabb Center. You can reach them through the statewide line at 855-274-7471 or the McNabb Center's Knox crisis line at 865-539-2409 (800-826-6881).
Crisis walk-in centers offer face-to-face evaluation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for anyone in a mental health emergency. The closest walk-in center for Blount County residents is the McNabb Center Crisis Walk-In Center at 5310 Ballcamp Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920 (865-541-6958). You do not need an appointment.
Right here in Blount County, Peninsula Behavioral Health, part of Covenant Health, offers mental health services for adults, youth and children at 2347 Jones Bend Road, Louisville, TN 37777. Call 865-970-9800 for services.
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is a statewide partnership of agencies, professionals, faith leaders, law enforcement and survivors. TSPN has regional directors across the state who connect communities with training, education and support for people who have survived a suicide attempt or lost a loved one to suicide.
Most people who are thinking about suicide show some signs beforehand. Pay close attention if someone you love:
Warning signs are more urgent when they are new, increasing or linked to a painful event such as an arrest, a breakup, a court date or a loss.
Legal problems can feel overwhelming. Criminal charges, a divorce, a custody dispute, a protective order or the consequences of addiction can bring fear, shame and uncertainty all at once. These moments are known to raise the risk of a mental health crisis, for the person facing the case and for the people who love them.
If you are carrying that weight right now, please know that legal problems can be worked through, and you do not have to face them alone. Taking care of your mental health comes first. A counselor, a crisis line or a trusted person can help you get through today, and the right legal guidance can help bring order and a plan to what feels out of control.
Many people who have survived suicidal thoughts go on to live full, meaningful lives. Treatment works, support works and connection works. Whether you are struggling yourself or worried about someone else, the most important step is reaching out.
At Sarah Miracle Law, we see our clients as whole people, not just cases. If legal trouble, family conflict or addiction-related charges are adding to the pressure in your life, contact Sarah Miracle Law to talk with someone who cares about where you are headed. And if you are in crisis right now, please call or text 988 first.
This article is for general information only and is not medical or legal advice. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
