Tennessee Tech is opening a free outpatient mental health clinic this fall to address the shortage of care providers and eliminate financial barriers for residents across the Upper Cumberland.
Center for Addiction Prevention and Support Director and Tennessee Tech Department of Sociology and Political Science Professor Steven Seiler said the new facility will focus on brief therapy sessions for individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse. The university is partnering with the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency to provide telehealth options for residents living in rural areas who face transportation challenges.
“What we do know is that, you know, people who are struggling with substance abuse, for example, that, you know, when addiction really sets in, it can impact many aspects of life, and one of those is, you know, work-life, the ability to make ends meet,” Seiler said. “And so we don’t want the cost of therapy to be the barrier to getting the care that they need.”
Seiler said the clinic will operate on an outpatient basis with a goal of meeting with clients for eight to 12 sessions. The project is supported by Opioid Abatement Council funding to directly address the mental health challenges that contribute to substance abuse. Patients requiring longer-term care will be referred to other regional facilities.
“One, we’re addressing needs in the community on the front end with the mental health clinic, but in the process, we’re also training up social workers to go out into the Upper Cumberland to serve not just as it relates to substance abuse, but really in all of the areas of our social services,” Seiler said. “So this also has to do with workforce development.”
Seiler said Tennessee Tech is building a Master of Social Work program and plans to submit the accreditation paperwork next week. Advanced students in the program will eventually work with clients in the clinic under professional supervision to significantly increase the facility’s capacity.
“You know, the long-term goals for the clinic, what we would love to be is working hand-in-hand with all of the mental health clinics in the community really to expand, to grow into the Upper Cumberland, to meet people where they’re at,” Seiler said. “That’s the ultimate goal.”
Seiler said the region currently has a shortage of providers, leaving many residents facing wait times of several weeks or longer to see a therapist. The university already offers Department of Children’s Services approved parenting classes and works closely with faith-based peer support programs in the local recovery community.
“And we are working with our community partners to really build out and think through the possibilities,” Seiler said. “There have been a number of services that have been in the discussions, none necessarily that I can speak to at the moment, but we’ll just say that we do hope to expand to fill other gaps in the community where we can.”
The free mental health clinic is scheduled to open to the public this fall.