Mental & Behavioral Health

1. 

   Step Outside: 5 places to embrace the outdoors in Tennessee cities

   Walking is good for you — this we know. But does it matter where you walk? One recent study shows it might. People who walked through nature for 90 minutes showed reduced activity in parts of the brain linked to mental illness compared to people who walked through a city. Other studies have shown that walking in nature — or even just viewing pictures of nature — can improve a person’s ability to concentrate and problem solve. In Tennessee, we’re surrounded by nature, which means we can take advantage of its restorative properties every day. Here are 5 places where you can do that without ever leaving the city: Chattanooga’s Riverwalk The Chattanooga Riverwalk stretches 13 miles along the Tennessee […]
2. 

   Teen Suicide in Tennessee: Are today’s youth more at risk than previous generations?

   Think about what a day looks like for today’s teenager. Most days, you’re balancing eight hours of class, after-school activities, hours of homework and maintaining relationships with family and friends. Some are doing all that while working part time. Most are doing it while trying to maintain a certain image in the outside world, in person and online — all while internally struggling with self-esteem issues that are common during adolescence. For some teens, online image holds a lot of importance. The Pew Research Center reports 94% of teens who go online using a mobile device do so daily, and 71% use more than one social media site when they do. That can lead to intense peer pressure, scrutiny and […]
3. 

   Health Brief: Mental Illness: 20% of Tennesseans experience mental illness

   Mental illness is more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. How mental illness affects Tennesseans.
4. 

   In Tune for a Bright Future

   Thanks to their ECF CHOICES support coordinator, brothers Mitchell, Paul and Edward Newton are living independently and reaching for their musical goals.

   In Tune for a Bright Future: ECF CHOICES helps 3 brothers with autism live independently, reach for their musical goals

   Thanks to their ECF CHOICES support coordinator, brothers Mitchell, Paul and Edward Newton are living independently and reaching for their musical goals.
5. 

   Come As You Are

   Would you want to be 13 again? Most people who remember seventh grade would probably not choose to relive it, and that’s because becoming a teenager is so confusing. Enter Rocketown.

   Come As You Are: Rocketown’s Family Dinner has just one rule: “No friends, all family”

   Would you want to be 13 again? Most people who remember seventh grade would probably not choose to relive it, and that’s because becoming a teenager is so confusing. Enter Rocketown.
6. 

   A Simple Life

   Every morning, Frederick grabs the newspaper to share with housemates. It’s part of a simple life that he appreciates beyond measure, in no small part because he was homeless for 17 years until Welcome Home.

   A Simple Life: Welcome Home of Chattanooga gives terminally ill men and women a place to die peacefully and changes lives in the process

   Every morning, Frederick grabs the newspaper to share with housemates. It’s part of a simple life that he appreciates beyond measure, in no small part because he was homeless for 17 years until Welcome Home.
7. 

   Health Brief: Addiction

   Nearly 400,000 Tennesseans abuse or are dependent on alcohol or drugs. How it’s happening and what we do to change it.

   Health Brief: Addiction: Nearly 400,000 Tennesseans abuse or are dependent on alcohol or drugs. How it's happening and what we do to change it.

   Nearly 400,000 Tennesseans abuse or are dependent on alcohol or drugs. How it’s happening and what we do to change it.
8. 

   Playing It Forward

   How SPARK, KaBOOM! and GoNoodle provide the tools and motivation for Tennessee kids to get moving and thrive.

   Playing It Forward: How SPARK, KaBOOM! and GoNoodle provide the tools and motivation for Tennessee kids to get moving and thrive

   How SPARK, KaBOOM! and GoNoodle provide the tools and motivation for Tennessee kids to get moving and thrive.
9. 

   Broken Lives Mended Here

   Chattanooga’s House of Refuge gives addicts the structure and care to rebuild their lives

   Broken Lives Mended Here: Chattanooga’s House of Refuge gives addicts the structure and care to rebuild their lives

   Chattanooga’s House of Refuge gives addicts the structure and care to rebuild their lives
10. 

    Health Brief: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

    More than 1,000 Tennessee infants are born dependent on drugs each year. Why it’s happening and how we change it.

    Health Brief: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS): More than 1,000 infants in Tennessee are born dependent on drugs each year. Why it's happening and how we change it.

    More than 1,000 Tennessee infants are born dependent on drugs each year. Why it’s happening and how we change it.