For months, frontline workers have been able to call an Emotional Support Line to help manage the personal stress of working during the pandemic, but now a group will have the opportunity to relieve some of their pressure: educators.
As the pandemic stretched on, teachers quickly became overwhelmed while navigating how to best teach their students during uncertain, and often changing, times. Even months into the new school year, teachers still have to adapt to a changing schedule and the possibility sudden quarantines.
To help manage the tremendous stress that comes with this, teachers can now call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line, provided by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).
"The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges, anxiety and stressors for many, including those doing the work of educating our kids," said Education Commission Penny Schwinn.
Schwinn said Tennessee teachers will now have the chance to receive critical support from trained mental health professionals.
"We at MHART are so thankful to be able to be a part of facilitating the expansion of this Emotional Support Line to all teachers and educators across the state of Tennessee," said T.J. Stone, executive coordinator at the Mental Health Active Response Team (MHART). "The fact that five statewide organizations have come together in the span of just a few weeks to support this expansion is a testament to the goodwill of Tennesseans and to the desperate need for a service like this for educators who have been struggling during this pandemic now more than ever.
"We are committed to being there for our teachers because they are committed to being there for our kids in one of the noblest and oldest professions," Stone continued. "The future of our state depends on their success."
The COVID-19 Emotional Support Line can be reached daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 888-642-7886 or by texting "TN" to 741-741. More information can be found here.
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