(Knoxville, TN) – New data from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center showed there was a 13 percent increase last year.
There were 94 suicides in 2020, up from 83 in 2019. However, that is consistent with data from previous years.
“Mental health issues, before the pandemic, affected about one in five people,” Mental Health Association of East Tennessee CEO Ben Harrington said. “During the pandemic, that prevalence rate actually doubled.”
HOTLINES
If you have an immediate emergency, dial 911.
Emotional Support Line: 888-642-7886, available from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. every day
State crisis line: 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471) or text “TN” to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Peer Recovery Call Center: 1-865-584-9125 between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Lifeline Crisis Chat: Chat online with a specialist who can provide emotional support, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services www.crisischat.org/
(WBIR)
