Providing real help for real hurt – right now!

     If you or someone you know is experiencing a Crisis
     call 615-244-7444.

The Crisis Center provides free telephone counseling and support to anyone experiencing a crisis.

Counselors can assist callers struggling with grief, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, divorce, parenting problems, addiction or serious mental illness. Many callers reach out to the Crisis Center because they are having suicidal thoughts. Our counselors are trained to de-escalate and intervene in these potentially dangerous situations.

The ultimate goal of the Crisis Center is to defuse personal crisis and provide support so that callers will be able to help themselves and their families. Services are available for those who do not speak English through tele-interpreter services in 150 languages. The Crisis Center is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology.

The Survivors of Suicide (SOS) weekly support group is an important outreach of the Crisis Center. SOS is offered at no cost for family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. This extension of Crisis Center’s telephone counselling is a vital community mental health resource because statistics show that on average, a circle of six suicide survivors (the family members or others close to the person completing suicide) will be at much higher risk for emotional problems and suicide themselves.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one to suicide and would like more information on SOS call 615-244-7444 or click here.

Family & Children’s Service also operates the United Way 2-1-1 Information & Referral Service. 2-1-1 Information and Referral Specialists can provide contact information for over 4,300 social services and other community resources.

Community Impact

• 33,294 people dealing with personal crises including 1,070 who were suicidal or homicidal called the Crisis Center in 2009-10.
• 94% percent of these Crisis Center callers who were in need of emotional support of information reached successful resolutions by recognizing their need for help, decreasing their immediate state of crisis and/or meeting their need for emotional support.
• 95% percent of Crisis Center callers who were suicidal or homicidal decreased the likelihood of harming themselves or others by agreeing to seek help or receiving emergency intervention.
• In 2010, 211 answered 149,794 calls for help and made 247,242 referrals to 1,859 agencies that provide assistance in Middle and East Tennessee.

Contact Information
For information about opportunities to volunteers as a Phone Counselor or Administrative Support volunteer, contact us at: 615-724-1334 ext. 223