COVID-19 Emotional Support Line for Healthcare Workers

A new emotional support phone line is now available for frontline healthcare workers impacted by the coronavirus. If you are a nurse, physician, first responder or other healthcare professional experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, or depression related to your work, the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line is staffed by trained volunteers who can help (please note this is not a crisis line).

The number is 888-MHART-TN (888-642-7886)

The support line is available from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. (CT), 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. (ET)

The Emotional Support Line provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency.
The Emotional Support Line is staffed by volunteer mental health professionals.
Emotional Support Line volunteers provide short term, non-professional emotional support to the caller.
This service does not provide clinical, medical, or therapeutic service.

TWhen your call is connected, you will hear an automated recording describing the service and will be connected to a live volunteer.

If you are in a mental health crisis and have thoughts of self-harm, please contact the Tennessee Crisis Line at 1-855-274-7471.

The Bookstore and Clearinghouse has resumed normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CT.

Face masks are required and will be available. We look forward to serving you!

Families fight insurers for life-saving care for loved ones with mental health conditions

Every year, an estimated 1 in 5 American adults experiences mental illness. When it comes to insurance coverage, the law is clear. The federal Mental Health Parity legislation passed in 2008 requires health insurers to provide at least equal coverage for mental health conditions, as they do for medical and surgical care. But as CBS News' Dr. Jon LaPook found out, some families still have to fight to get the life-saving care their loved ones need. Full Story https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mental-health-insurance-coverage-families-fight-for-life-saving-care/

April 2020

Check out the new quarterly TAADAS Times by clicking here.

January 2020

The new TAADAS Times has been published! Read the latest edition here.

December 2018

Follow the links below to find a list of new incoming legislators for the 111th General Assembly as well as the full list of TAADAS Advocacy Contacts.

November 2018

See the Secretary of States's full list of Tennessee Election Results and learn more about changes coming in local, state, and federal government.

July 2019

TAADAS published a legislative recap of events and actions taken during the first half of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly. Download the report here.

April 2019

Don't be denied your right to mental health and addiction treatment. The Kennedy Forum's new campaign, Don't Deny Me, can help people who have been denied coverage for behavioral health. Contact them here.

February 2019

Legislative Session reconvened, and bill filing deadline will be the first week of January for both the House and Senate. Be on the lookout for your TAADAS legislative talking points soon!

November 2018

TAADAS announces its 2019 Legislative and Regulatory Priorities.

October 2018

Want to learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their effects on mental health and wellness? Follow the link to Tennessee's Building Strong Brains Initiative.

General Assembly in recess

The Tennessee General Assembly is on recess through June 1 due to the coronavirus epidemic. There have been several reports that indicate state revenues are significantly down, which will undoubtedly affect the state budget. The TAADAS advocacy team will be watching that and any other issues related to substance use disorder treatment and prevention if and when lawmakers return.

TAADAS Announces 2020 Legislative Priorities

TAADAS has chosen these five legislative and regulatory priorities TAADAS for 2020:
• Fund Adult Residential Treatment
• Enforce Parity
• Support Prescription Privileges for Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants
• Expand Access to Quality Recovery Housing
• Expand Services for Pregnant and Post-Partum Women

For more information about our goals, follow the link to our Advocacy Page and look for the "On the Hill" section.

If you are interested in being part of TAADAS advocacy efforts, please join us as the next Legislative Committee meeting, held the Wednesday before monthly TAADAS board meetings.