Knoxville, Tenn. – The Knox County Health Department released a comprehensive report exploring the state of mental health in Knox County. The report presents data on issues and barriers from Knox County mental health providers and offers recommendations to address them. The full report can be found here.
“Mental health affects every aspect of our lives and is a critical component of overall health,” said KCHD Senior Director Kevin Parton. “This report provides a starting place to evaluate our current mental health landscape and looks at ways the most urgent barriers to accessing mental health care can be improved.”
Mental health disorders are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.
Mental health providers in Knox County were asked to list the top issues impacting mental health in their respective communities. Lack of access, homelessness, substance misuse, and childhood trauma were all listed at the top. The report also looks at the mental health of special populations, including veterans, children, and people in the judicial system.
Recommendations to meet needs and address barriers were developed based on data analysis and feedback from focus groups. Transportation, awareness of existing services, and workforce availability are all addressed in the report with proposed recommendations.
About Knox County Health Department
The first health department in Tennessee to achieve national voluntary accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is dedicated to ensuring the conditions in which every resident can be healthy. For more information, visit here
