TDMHSAS Receives Funding to Support Mental Health Needs of Flood Survivors
Federal funding to cover services in four hardest-hit countiesNASHVILLE, Tenn.— The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is receiving federal funding to support the mental health needs of people who survived deadly flash flooding in August.
More than $116,000 in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Program will support services for residents of Dickson, Hickman, Houston, and Humphreys Counties. The four counties were covered under a Major Disaster Declaration following devastating flash flooding during severe thunderstorms on August 21, 2021. Twenty people perished in hardest-hit Humphreys County.
Mental health services will be provided through Centerstone which has existing relationships in the affected counties and has experience doing this work following natural disasters. Funding through the grant will provide staffing for mental health professionals from Centerstone to visit affected communities, assess needs, and deliver services.
“We know the mental health impacts of a disaster like this are often not fully realized for some time after the event. The pain of loss of life and damage to home and community is something that survivors will be grappling with for months and years to come,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. “We’re so grateful to our funders at the federal level for recognizing the need and to our community partners at Centerstone for stepping up to support the resiliency of the survivors of this tragic event.”
This initial funding is designed to provide services for up to 60 days. The department is also applying to FEMA for an additional grant which would provide extended support to survivors for up to nine months.