988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Tennessee)

Mental Health · Tennessee · Free

Call or text 988 for free, confidential 24/7 crisis support. Tennessee calls are routed to local crisis centers staffed by trained counselors who can provide immediate emotional support, safety planning, and referrals to Tennessee mental health resources. Serves anyone in suicidal, substance, or emotional crisis, including family members. No insurance, photo ID, or appointment is required; interpreters are available in multiple languages.

Contact & Details

Address: Statewide

Phone: 988

Hours: 24/7

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About Mental Health for Fathers

Mental health services in the US range from free crisis lines and public community mental health centers to private therapy and inpatient care. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7 nationwide and is free and confidential. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) connects callers with local treatment resources for mental health and substance use. Community Mental Health Centers exist in every state and serve people regardless of ability to pay, usually on sliding-scale fees. Medicaid covers mental health care in all states, and the ACA requires insurance plans to cover mental health at parity with medical care. Fathers are particularly at risk for undiagnosed depression, anxiety, and substance issues around separation and custody disputes — this directory surfaces crisis lines, low-cost therapy, support groups specifically for men, and state mental health authorities.

Mental Health in Tennessee

Tennessee circuit and chancery courts hear family matters in each of its 31 judicial districts, with some counties operating juvenile courts for unmarried-parent custody. Tennessee Child Support Services operates under DHS. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga are the major metros. Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Memphis Area Legal Services, and West Tennessee Legal Services cover the state.

More Mental Health in Tennessee

  • Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling via text message from anywhere in Tennessee. Trained volunteer crisis counselor
  • NAMI Tennessee — Statewide mental health advocacy organization offering free peer support groups, family education classes (Family-to-Family, NAMI Basics), a
  • NAMI Davidson County (Nashville) — Local NAMI affiliate serving Nashville with free peer-led support groups, Family-to-Family education classes, and mental health resource nav
  • SAMHSA National Helpline — Free, confidential 24/7 national helpline for mental health and substance use disorder treatment referrals in English and Spanish. Serves Te
  • Alliance Healthcare Services (Memphis) — Community mental health center serving Memphis and Shelby County with outpatient counseling, psychiatric care, medication management, and cr
  • Volunteer Behavioral Health (Chattanooga) — Regional behavioral health provider serving Southeast Tennessee with counseling, psychiatric services, case management, and community-based

Mental Health — Common Questions

I'm in crisis right now — who do I call?
Dial or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7 nationwide. Veterans press 1. For non-crisis mental health support, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
How do I find a therapist I can afford?
Community Mental Health Centers (every state has them) charge on sliding-scale based on income. Medicaid covers therapy in all states. Private insurance must cover mental health at parity with medical care. Psychology Today's therapist finder lets you filter by insurance. Open Path Collective offers
0–$80 sessions.
Can therapy hurt my custody case?
Almost always no — judges view voluntarily-sought mental health treatment as responsible parenting. Therapists must keep sessions confidential (with narrow exceptions: child abuse disclosure, imminent self-harm). Court-ordered evaluations are different from voluntary therapy.
Is there support specifically for men?
Yes. Face It Foundation, HeadsUpGuys, Men's Sheds, and Man Therapy run men-focused programs. Many community mental health centers run men-only groups. Fatherhood programs often include peer support as part of their model.