Tennessee Severe Mental Illness Information, Laws, & Helpful Resources
The term severe mental illness (SMI) includes schizophrenia spectrum disorders, severe bipolar disorder, and major depression with psychotic features. These disorders put an individual at high risk for criminalization and preventable tragedies such as victimization and suicide. Every state has different laws and policies around accessing treatment for SMI and some states have more resources and treatment options than others. Here you will find state-specific resources for navigating the SMI treatment system, an evaluation of local laws, as well as state SMI data and research.
Family Resources in Resources in Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (tn.gov) Resources and contacts
- Hospital Services (tn.gov) General resources and information about Regional Mental Health Institutes
- NAMI Tennessee (namitn.org) Support groups, training, information
- Disability Rights Tennessee (disabilityrightstn.org) Protection and advocacy for individuals with disabilities
- Homeless Information: Tennessee | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (hud.gov/states/tennessee) Shelter locator and links to local resources
- Tennessee Department of Correction Felony Offender Information (tn.gov) Search for a person in prison
- Tennessee Bar Association (tba.org) Legal assistance
How many people in Tennessee have SMI?
individuals with severe mental illness.
individuals with SMI who receive treatment in a given year.
of the adult population is estimated living with a SMI in the United States.
State psychiatric hospital beds in Tennessee
2023 total beds: 550
- Civil beds: 467
- Forensic beds: 83
2023 beds per 100,000 people: 7.8
Click here for more information about state psychiatric hospital beds in Tennessee.
A minimum of 50 beds per 100,000 people is considered necessary to provide minimally adequate treatment for individuals with severe mental illness. Tennessee fails to meet this minimum standard.
For Additional Information
Data is a powerful tool to advocate for change. Curious about a specific data point in your state? Reach out to us at ORPA@treatmentadvocacycenter.org
Fast Facts on SMI in Tennessee
Deinstitutionalization, outdated treatment laws, discriminatory Medicaid funding practices, and the prolonged failure by states to fund their mental health systems drive those in need of care into the criminal justice and corrections systems.
21%
11,225
550
20 to 1
2021 Tennessee State Mental Health Agency's expenditures
Every state receives block grant funding from the federal government to provide mental health services to their community. Below is some information about how these dollars are spent and compares to other state spending.
$876,158,700
17%
$2,168
2.2%
Tennessee's Treatment Laws
TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-402. If an officer authorized to make arrests in the state, a licensed physician, a psychologist [designated as a health service provider], or a professional designated by the commissioner [to take actions and perform duties imposed by law upon physicians] has reason to believe that a person [meets the criteria for emergency evaluation], then the officer, physician, psychologist, or designated professional may take the person into custody without a civil order or warrant for immediate examination ... for certification of need for care and treatment. TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-401. IF AND ONLY IF (1) a person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (2) the person poses an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm under § 33-6-501 because of the mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, THEN (3) the person may be detained … to obtain examination for certification of need for care and treatment. TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-403. IF AND ONLY IF (1) a person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (2) the person poses an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm, under § 33-6-501, because of the mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (3) the person needs care, training, or treatment because of the mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (4) all available less drastic alternatives to placement in a hospital or treatment resource are unsuitable to meet the needs of the person, THEN (5) the person may be admitted and detained by a hospital or treatment resource for emergency diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment under this part.
TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-504. The parent, legal guardian, legal custodian, conservator, spouse, or a responsible relative of the person alleged to be in need of care and treatment, a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist [designated as a health service provider], a health or public welfare officer, an officer authorized to make arrests in the state, or the chief officer of a facility that the person is in, may file a complaint to require involuntary care and treatment of a person with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance under this part. TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-502. IF AND ONLY IF (1) a person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (2) the person poses a substantial likelihood of serious harm because of the mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (3) the person needs care, training, or treatment because of the mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, AND (4) all available less drastic alternatives to placement in a hospital or treatment resource are unsuitable to meet the needs of the person, THEN (5) the person may be judicially committed to involuntary care and treatment in a hospital or treatment resource[.] TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-501. IF AND ONLY IF (1) (A) a person has threatened or attempted suicide or to inflict serious bodily harm on the person, OR (B) the person has threatened or attempted homicide or other violent behavior, OR (C) the person has placed others in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them, OR (D) the person is unable to avoid severe impairment or injury from specific risks, AND (2) there is a substantial likelihood that such harm will occur unless the person is placed under involuntary treatment, THEN (3) the person poses a "substantial likelihood of serious harm" for purposes of this title.
TENN. CODE ANN. § 33-6-602. IF (1) on the basis of a review of the person's history before and during hospitalization, the hospital staff concludes that: (A) the person has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance or has a mental illness or serious emotional disturbance in remission, (B) the person's condition resulting from mental illness or serious emotional disturbance is likely to deteriorate rapidly to the point that the person will pose a likelihood of serious harm under § 33-6-501 unless treatment is continued, (C) the person is likely to participate in outpatient treatment with a legal obligation to do so, (D) the person is not likely to participate in outpatient treatment unless legally obligated to do so, and (E) mandatory outpatient treatment is a suitable less drastic alternative to commitment, THEN (2) the person shall be eligible for discharge subject to the obligation to participate in any medically appropriate outpatient treatment, including, but not limited to, psychotherapy, medication, or day treatment, under a plan approved by the releasing facility and the outpatient qualified mental health professional.
Recommended updates to treatment laws
- 1
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 33-6-402 and 33-6-404 to authorize citizen right of petition for at least enumerated citizens, preferably any responsible adult, for emergency evaluation
- 2
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-504 to authorize citizen right of petition for any responsible adult for inpatient commitment
- 3
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-501 to remove imminence requirement to meet criteria for danger to self or others
- 4
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-501(1)(d) to clarify grave disability standard and remove language requiring severe impairment to meet criteria
- 5
Add psychiatric deterioration criteria or amend grave disability criteria to include it
- 6
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-602 to 1) enable referral directly from the community and 2) authorize citizen right of petition directly to court for at least enumerated citizens, preferably any responsible adult, for outpatient commitment
- 7
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-604 in order to (1) provide for periodic reporting to court, (2) provide express procedures for renewal of order, and (3) include a requirement that a written treatment plan be submitted to the court
- 8
Amend Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-623 to extend duration of continued order for outpatient treatment beyond 180 days