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Community Peer Support


Learning from others experiencing the same issues you may, can be one of the most significant tools a person can use on their journey to recovery. Peer support can be provided by phone, in organized activities at peer support centers or in support group meetings.

MHA Peer Recovery Call Center

Support is provided by Tennessee Certified Peer Recovery Specialists via telephone five days per week. Each peer specialist at the Peer Recovery Call Center is employed by the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee and trained to assist individuals find the right resources to their situation and to provide follow up peer support to ensure clients improve their quality of life, and mentor each person in their recovery journey. Call 865-584-9125 to start your journey. 

Peer Support Centers

Peer Support Centers are places where people with mental illness and substance use disorders can learn about recovery, find peer support, and have fun—all for free. The friends you make there will become like family to you. You can take classes on subjects like stress, anger, recovery, health, wellness, and grief. You can go to peer support groups where you can talk about what’s on your heart. You can also go on outings, play games, and do arts and crafts, among other activities, or help others in your town.

Host Agency Contact: Vonda Wagner
423-232-2783
26 Midway St.
Bristol, TN 37620

Open Arms

Kristin McNally
kdmcnally@frontierhealth.org
423-274-8100
266 North St.
Bristol, TN 37620
Tues, Wed, Thurs 8 am – 4 pm
Counties Covered: Sullivan

Friendship House

Sierra Whitehead
swhitehe@frontierhealth.org 
423-232-4264
2243 Eddie Williams Rd.
Johnson City, TN 37604
Open: Tues, Wed, Fri 8 am – 4 pm
Counties Covered: Unicoi, Washington, Carter

Friendship Connection

Eric Williams
emwilliams@frontierhealth.org
423-416-0257
2017 Stonebrook Place
Kingsport, TN 37660
Open: Tues, Wed
Thurs 9 am – 4 pm
Counties Covered: Sullivan, Hawkins

Freedom Peer Support Center – Greeneville

Coordinator: Suzie Fledderjohn
423-639-1313
616 East Church St. , Suite. A
Greeneville, TN 37743
Greene County:
Open: Mon, Tues, Fri 11 am – 3 pm
Hawkins County:
Open: Mon, Tues, Fri 11 am – 5 pm
Counties Covered: Greene, Hawkins

Higher Ground

Missy Newman
mnewman@frontierhealth.org
423-727-8685
873 South Shady St.
Mountain City, TN 37683
Open: Tues – Thurs 9 am – 4 pm
Counties Covered: Johnson

Sneedville Peer Support Center

Lynn Keck
dkeck@frontierhealth.org
423-733-1540
119 Nora Alder Dr.
Sneedville, TN 37689
Open: Mon, Tues, Wed 11 am – 3 pm
Counties Covered: Hancock

CHEROKEE HEALTH SYSTEMS

Host Agency Contact: Stella Melton
423-623-5301 or 423-586-5032
215 Hedrick Dr.
Newport, TN 37821

Health Recovery Group-Morristown

Peer Counselor: Mike Clayton
Email: michael.clayton@cherokeehealth.com
865-207-1047
815 W. 5th North St.
Morristown, TN 37814
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 1- 4 pm
Counties covered: Hamblen, Cocke

Health Recovery Group-Newport

Peer Counselor: Mike Clayton
Email: michael.clayton@cherokeehealth.com
423-623-5301
215 Hedrick Dr.
Newport, TN 37821
Hours: Tues and Thurs 1 – 4 pm
Counties covered: Hamblen, Cocke

RIDGEVIEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL and CENTER

Host Agency Contact: Sharon Stratton
865-482-1076 ext. 1110
240 West Tyrone Rd.

Friendship Place

Coordinator:​ Sonya Ashford​
Email: ashfordsr@ridgevw.com
865-882-7694
221 Devonia St.
Harriman, TN 37748
Open: Wed – Fri 12 pm – 6 pm
Counties Covered: Roane

Horizons

Coordinator: Linda White
865-483-5457
11 Joel Ln.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Open: Wed – Sat 12 pm – 5:30 pm
Counties Covered: Anderson

Wings

Coordinator: Jurjen Miller
Email: millerjr@ridgevw.com
423-562-2022
1327 East Central Ave., Suite 5
Lafollette, TN 37766
Open: Wed – Thurs, 11 am – 6 pm
Fri, 11 am – 7 pm Sat, 10 am – 6 pm
Counties Covered: Campbell

HELEN ROSS MCNABB CENTER

Host Agency Contact: Jana Morgan
865-544-3841 ext. 4108
526 Lamar St.
Knoxville, TN 37917

Friendship House

Coordinator: Pamela Coleman
Email:  Pamela.Coleman@mcnabb.org
865-541-6635
526 Lamar St.
Knoxville, TN 37917
Open:
Tues, Wed, Fri: noon to 5:30 pm
Sat 10-2
Sun 10:30 -2
Counties Covered: Knox​

Host Agency Contact: Mary Nelle Osborne
865-374-7140
1451 Dowell Springs Blvd.,  Suite 101
Knoxville, TN 37909-2451

Blount Peer Support Academy

Shay Boyd (865-373-8210/865-680-3791)
Stan Grub (865-373-8207)
2339 Jones Bend Rd.
Louisville, TN 37777
Currently doing phone and Zoom support only

Sevier Peer Support Academy

Velvet Kelley
865-774-7559
509 High St.
Sevierville, TN 37862
Currently doing phone and Zoom support only

Knox Peer Support Academy 

Sheryl McCormic and Cathy Jeralds
865-374-7148
1451 Dowell Springs Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37909
Currently doing phone and Zoom support only

HELEN ROSS McNABB HAMILTON COUNTY

Host Agency Contact: Gayle Lodato
423-763-4608
1028 East 3rd St.
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Lighthouse Peer Support Center

Coordinator: Susan Brown
423-756-1295
509 South Highland Park
Chattanooga, TN 37403-4116
Open: Mon – Thurs 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat– 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Counties Covered: Hamilton

Mental Health Support Groups

DBSA – Depression Bipolar Support Alliance

Wednesdays 630-8PM Central United Methodist Church
201 3rd Avenue Knoxville, TN 37919
For more info call 865-250-9871

DBSA Chattanooga
Greater Chattanooga Online Support Group
Thursdays at 6:15 PM (Virtual until further notice)
Visit their Facebook page for meeting details

Suicide Support Groups

Chattanooga

Hospice of Chattanooga
Every Tuesday, September 8-October 13, 2020 11:30-1:00

Cookeville

GriefShare
Marlene Bassetts and John Schaefer (mr.john2889@gmail.com)
(931) 644-9600
Mondays at 5:30 PM, Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, and Wednesdays at 1 PM
GriefShare website

“Journey” grief support groups
(931) 525-2600
info@heartofthecumberland.org
Held periodically, call or e-mail for next course date
More information at www.heartofthecumberland.org/services.html

Jefferson City

ComPaSS (flyer)
Cynthia Lynn (clynn3118@gmail.com)
(865) 680-3256
6 PM on the first Thursday of each month

Johnson City/Gray*

Tri-Cities Survivors of Suicide Loss
Linda Harold (lindaphipps1973@gmail.com)
(423) 245-5608

Knoxville

Suicide Grievers Support Group
Paula J. Alexander, LCSW, CGC (pj4031@tds.net)
2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM

Morristown

ComPASS (Communicating the Pain as Suicide Survivors)
Dr. Cynthia Lynn (clynn3118@gmail.com)
(865) 680-3256
2nd Sundays at 2 PM

Sevierville

ComPASS (Communicating the Pain as Suicide Survivors)
Dr. Cynthia Lynn (clynn3118@gmail.com) or Jack and Robin Maples
1st Tuesdays at 6 PM

Celebrate Recovery Groups

Celebrate Recovery Groups and services are provided by the faith community host organization or church. Groups provided may include mental health, addiction, co-occurring, or other issues like domestic violence or divorce recovery. Groups may vary by location. Celebrate Recovery meeting dates and locations may change. Please visit https://locator.crgroups.info/ for a Celebrate Recovery Group that is right for you!

Alcohol and Substance Use Support Groups

AA Groups

AA (alcoholics anonymous) group meeting dates and locations may change. The most current list of AA groups can be located at:

http://www.etiaa.org/etiaa/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/East-Tennessee-Meeting-List-April-2018.pdf

Celebrate Recovery Groups

Celebrate Recovery Groups and services are provided by the faith community host organization or church. Groups provided may include mental health, addiction, co-occurring, or other issues like domestic violence or divorce recovery. Groups may vary by location. Celebrate Recovery meeting dates and locations may change. Please visit https://locator.crgroups.info/ for a Celebrate Recovery Group that is right for you!

Recovery Education Programs

Education programs, taught by certified peer specialists, play a key role in each person’s recovery by giving students the tools to identify potential problems, formulate personal crisis plans, maintain wellness and manage their treatment and recovery plan.

Peninsula Recovery Education Center (REC), staffed by TN Certified Peer Specialists, is a place where people who struggle with mental illness develop their own programs to enhance and support their recovery. Participants can participate in many groups or classes, including the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Job Readiness classes. Call 865-374-7151 or visit www.peninsulabehavioralhealth.org.

Peer Support Academy – Peer Support Academy programs are often held in the community rather than at their centers. Prospective attendees are encouraged to call the program or visit http://www.peninsulabehavioralhealth.org/peersupportacademies to view the calendar of events for the program  in their community.

Knox County Peer Support AcademyContact Sheryl McCormic or Cathy Jeralds (865-374-7148)
Blount County Peer Support AcademyContact Shay Boyd (865-373-8210/865-680-3791) or Stan Grub (865-373-8207)
Sevier County Peer Support AcademyContact Velvet Kelley (865-774-7559)

BRIDGES, – Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support, is a peer-taught course on mental illness, mental health treatment and self-help skills provided by the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association. Call 888-539-0393. http://tmhca-tn.org/

The Mental Health Association offers all services to eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin or disability.

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