News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Anyone in the Upper Cumberland in need of emotional support can contact the Tennessee Recovery Project.
This FEMA sponsored program provides resources for individuals suffering with COVID-19 emotional distress. Program Manager Donna Vize said helping these individuals is challenging because everyone is affected.
“We can’t go out in the community and put together support groups and talk to people one on one because of social distancing and the possible spread of COVID,” Vize said. “So we are working very hard on developing a virtual kind of program.”
Vize said the TN Recovery Project has trained individuals available in mental health services, social work, psychology, or counseling. So far the most common concerns include isolation, fear of getting sick, and job loss.
Since July 1 the Recovery Project has received a few calls with COVID-19 concerns. Vize said she hopes more people will call in order to free up local mental health crisis centers.
“There’s a lot of COVID related calls that are coming into our crisis center,” Vize said. “That’s a reason this is a really good thing because we can hopefully absorb some of that and reduce the call volume and the strain on our crisis workers if we can deal with some of these non life threatening mental health concerns without engaging the crisis team.”
To contact the TN Recovery Project, call 1-833-954-2424.
Vize also works at Plateau Mental Health.
