According to the CDC, “recent data show that the United States is in mental health crisis, experienced by people of all ages.” In fact, according to the CDC, “5.8 million emergency department visits occurred in 2021 with mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders as the primary diagnosis”. As Knox County residents, it’s fair to ask, what is Knox County doing about the raging mental health crisis?
Prior to 2012, Lakeshore Mental Health facility provided in-patient mental health services for Knoxville and the surrounding communities. But in 2012, Lakeshore Mental Health facility closed leaving a huge gap in providing comprehensive inpatient mental health services to Knox County and surrounding counties.
Why Was Lakeshore Closed?
As someone who was not here at the time, I’ve done some research to determine why Lakeshore was closed. Out of the number of news articles I researched, none gave any specific reasoning for the closure. It was reported that Nashville legislators “thought the closure of the Northshore facility would be good for the community” saying “it would allow more patients to be treated for less money” by utilizing local mental health clinics.
But Knox County officials felt differently and pushed back against the closure. Unfortunately, Nashville won out.
After the closure of the Lakeshore Mental facility, patients and monies were transferred or patients referred to local community health centers.
Unfortunately, Knox County officials were found to be correct. Since Lakeshore Mental Health Facility was closed, there has been a spike in incarceration of patients with mental illness leading to the overcrowding of Knox County jails over time.
It is estimated that approximately 30% of inmates suffer from some form of mental illness. The jail system is not equipped to treat or support these individuals and an estimated $1M was spent in 2023 alone on psychiatric medications. Source: WATE
A Short-Term Solution
In absence of a local long-term inpatient mental health facility, the Knox County Mental Health Criminal Court was formed, headed up by Knox County General Sessions Court Judge, Chuck Cerny.
The court serves adult defendants who have serious and persistent mental illnesses and serves as an alternative to incarceration, potentially alleviating overcrowding in Knox County jails.
The goals of the court are to increase the quality of life, reduce incarceration and recidivism, reduce correction costs, improve public safety and increasing treatment success by using a problem-solving model instead of traditional criminal court processing.
The Mental Health Criminal Court has been deemed a success with the state officially certifying it noting it met all the requirements and standards for certification in TN. (Source: KnoxCounty.org)
What Mental Health Facilities are Currently Available for Knox County Residents?
There are over 19 outpatient mental health facilities/clinics in Knoxville including the McNabb Centers and 2 public/private partnership facilities; the Knoxville Center for Behavioral Medicine and East TN Behavioral Health which mainly focus on outpatient services. Both of the latter have inpatient services although these are not meant for long-term cases.
There are 4 state-run long-term mental health facilities throughout TN. These inpatient mental health facilities are Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville, Western Mental Health Institute in Bolivar, Memphis Mental Health Institute in Memphis, and the Moccasin Bend facility in Chattanooga. The Chattanooga facility currently services 51 counties including Knox County.
Knox County Leaders Recognize the Need
In 2022, the Knox County Commission recognized the need for a long-term state-funded inpatient mental health facility within East Knoxville and passed resolution R-22-10-903. However, the TN Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services responded that there were sufficient services, and the current funding was enough to meet the needs of the community.
In 2023, both the Knoxville City Council and the Knoxville County Commission voted in separate resolutions to support the building of a state-funded long-term mental health facility for Knoxville.
The state appeared to still not be convinced at this point despite both city and county leaders agreeing there was a need for a long-term mental health facility.
In 2023, Senator Becky Massey (SD18), Senator Richard Briggs, and Lt. General Randy McNally penned a letter to Commissioner Williams, Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services requesting they conduct a study on the feasibility of building a long-term mental health facility in Knoxville.
The report was delivered in 2024 showing that ~688 patients from the 24-County Upper East Tennessee region were admitted to Moccasin Bend with two hundred-fifty-three of those patients beeing transported by the Knox County Sheriff’s office. The report corroborated the need for a local inpatient mental facility.
Knox County Citizens Begin Their Fight for a Mental Health Solution
A short time later, a “Resolution Supporting Mental Healthcare Options and Public Safety” was penned and circulated by a grassroots group. The resolution did the following:
- Encouraged elected officials to focus on the root causes of violent crime, to provide effective working solutions in the interest of public safety without infringing on the 2nd Amendment rights of citizens
- Encouraged them to support the building of a new state mental health facility in East Tennessee
- Encouraged them to work to improve access to mental healthcare (services and cost) through legislation
The resolution was endorsed by most of the Knox County Republican clubs and grassroots organizations and was sent to Republican Knox County State Delegation Members, Knox County Commissioners, Republican Knox County Board of Education Members, and Knoxville City Council to show constituent support for solutions to the problem. You can find a copy of the resolution here.
Will Knox County Receive Approval to Build a Much-Needed Mental Health Facility?
As mentioned earlier, patients requiring inpatient services need to travel to the Moccasin Bend facility in Chattanooga. Knox County Sheriff Office personnel must transport inmates requiring mental health services to and from appointments in Chattanooga.
The State was considering approving a $260M replacement facility on the Moccasin Bend site, but the proposal was opposed by many Native American groups including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation.
After further exploration, state officials determined the work would damage the historic site which still contains artifacts from the Woodland period, including human remains and subterranean dwellings and abandoned the proposal.
As a result, the General Services Department and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services have been looking for another site in two possible locations. The article stated that one of the sites is in Chattanooga and that “Knoxville could be in play, too.” Source: Compass Knox January 16, 2024.
So, Knoxville could finally be in the running for the new site-let’s hope our legislators agree and continue to push to make it happen!
What Can You Do?
You can help ensure that those who are in need of mental health services have them close by.
Click here to read the resolution about mental health, and contact your representatives, senators, and the governor to show your support for a mental health facility in Knox County.