PODCAST: In this episode, WGNS' Scott Walker sits down for a critical conversation on the state of mental health resources in Middle Tennessee. The segment begins with State Representative Mike Sparks of Smyrna, who joins the show while in session to discuss the urgent need for accessible mental health support for area youth. Rep. Sparks shares a poignant letter from fomer Murfreesboro City Schools Director Linda Gilbert that highlighted the alarming behavioral shifts that she reported seeing in children as young as six years old and the need for more social workers in area schools. Dr. Gilbert passed away in May of 2020, while serving as the Director for the City Schools. Scroll down to see the email that Rep. Sparks shared with WGNS listeners.
Following this, Ella Britt, Vice President of Community Outreach for Volunteer Behavioral Health, joins the studio to dive deeper into the solutions available for our community. Volunteer Behavioral Health is a vital organization partnering with local school systems, law enforcement, and thousands of individuals across 50 Tennessee counties. Ella discusses their comprehensive approach to treating complex conditions like PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as the increasingly prevalent struggles with depression and anxiety.
In addition to Britt’s focus on community outreach for Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System, she is also a licensed counselor who serves as a commission member for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.
Important Phone Numbers:
- First Time Appointment Line: 877-567-6051
- 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 800-704-2651
- For anyone afraid to verbally speak to someone, they can text: 988
Below: The email that Rep. Mike Sparks talked about receiving 2-weeks before Dr. Gilbert passed away. Dr. Gilbert served as the Director of the Murfreesboro City Schools. In 2018, Dr. Linda Gilbert was named the Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year by her colleagues. Lawmakers for the State of Tennessee later voted-in a Resolution to honor the long-time educator (Click Here to Read).
