Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read November 2023 — Belmont University Data Collaborative (BDC) recently released its early findings that shed light on the commonality of mental health concerns in Middle Tennessee, with the state overall posting some of the highest numbers in the country for reported mental health issues.
After launching BDC this past May, its community health-equity report, titled Project WELL, found more than 38% of state residents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression as of June 2023, tied for third-most in the United States.
The Mental Health Index was created to examine social determinants of mental health across 41 counties in the region and highlight communities falling into “vulnerable” categories.
“When you look at it from a zip code perspective, you can see some of the most vulnerable communities in the entire Middle Tennessee area are right here in Nashville – their impact gets diluted by the lower vulnerability areas within the county. With this kind of index, we are able to actually drill into the specific vulnerabilities within these areas, which makes it more actionable when we are talking with organizations that want to help,” said BDC Data Analytics Manager Tommy Strickler.
Based on metrics from Google Trends, the use of the term “mental health” has slowly risen since 2017 and is currently around its peak level of search interest as of October 2023.
Tennessee is near the bottom of the country in terms of youth mental health, with the State of the Child 2022 report ranking the Volunteer State 41st in the United States. The major factor holding Tennessee back is the 71.1% of youth with at least one major depressive episode who did not receive mental health services, compared to the national average of 59.8%. Mental health workforce availability also trails the national average, with only one mental health provider for every 590 individuals as opposed to the national average of one provider for every 350 individuals.
While smaller investments are continually being made to address the mental health concerns of Tennessee residents, the $250 million K-12 Mental Health trust fund, introduced by Gov. Bill Lee in 2021, will begin to be spent during FY24. Meanwhile, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is finalizing an assessment on mental health needs of K-12 students, according to The Tennessean.
In addition to mental health, the BDM’s WELL Project covers a range of issues related to healthcare that is designed to start more discussions on addressing access to care and leading health concerns. The university’s Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine, which will begin enrolling students in July 2024, could also bolster the healthcare workforce pipeline in the region going forward.
“The need for physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers is extraordinary. We have to be looking at healthcare education more broadly, and we are glad to be developing the Frist College of Medicine to help with the physician shortage. The broader healthcare environment is one where workforce development is very crucial,” Belmont University President Greg Jones told Invest:.
“The role of physician assistants and nurse practitioners is becoming even more important, especially in rural environments where shortages are most acutely felt.”
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