WHEREAS, Tragic mass shootings are being used for political purposes to advocate for gun confiscation, however almost all of the individuals c0mmitting these crimes struggle with some form of mental health issue as in the recent Covenant School Shooting in Nashville.;
WHEREAS, Recent epidemiologic and survey data from Knox County indicate the three most urgent issues impacting mental health in Knox County were childhood trauma, anxiety and homelessness with barriers to treatment including transportation, knowledge of available services, and cost of treatment and;
WHEREAS, The closing of the Lakeshore Mental Health Facility in Knoxville in 2012 resulted in the overcrowding of jails over time as there was no other option than incarceration of mentally ill patients who may have otherwise been placed in a state mental health facility for care; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 30 percent of county inmates in Knox County jails have psychological issues and jails are not equipped to treat or support these individuals. The formation of a Knox County Mental Health Criminal Court may prove to be an alternative to incarceration of individuals with pyschological issues; and
WHEREAS, There are about 19 outpatient mental health centers, 2 non-state funded mental health facilities in Knoxville with the latter providing intensive outpatient and limited inpatient mental health services, and 4 state-run inpatient only facilities in Chattanooga, Nashville, Bolivar, and Memphis for patients with severe and/or persistent mental illness; and
WHEREAS, The Knox County Commissioners in October 2022 overwhelmingly passed a resolution (R-22-10-903) calling for a new state mental health facility in East Tennessee and asked the state to provide funding. There is a need not only for a new state inpatient mental health facility in Knoxville but also solutions to access to care including cost of treatment as many individuals with health insurance have inadequate coverage; therefore be it
RESOLVED, __________________________________ encourages 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 US and Tennessee Constitutions; and
RESOLVED, __________________________________ encourages elected officials to support the building of a new state mental health facility in East Tennessee, work to improve through legislation, access to mental healthcare (services and cost);
and
RESOLVED, A copy of this adopted resolution be sent to all Republican Knox County State Delegation Members, Knox County Commissioners, Republican Knox County Board of Education Members, and Knoxville City Council.