About

In response to the pressing need for increased awareness and collaboration across disciplines with interests in mental health advocacy, we (a group of graduate students in Counseling Psychology) have created a multidisciplinary conference aimed at promoting access and advocacy for mental health in Tennessee. Many people living in the state of Tennessee have historically faced challenges, such as limited resources and funding for mental health, that serve as barriers in accessing mental health services. For instance, rural Appalachian communities face geographical and financial barriers, and marginalized populations encounter additional obstacles in the form of cultural stigma and historical disparities in healthcare provision. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these issues, this conference aims to increase knowledge and foster discussions about mental health access and advocacy across disciplines within the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

 

The development of this conference has also been inspired by the scientist-practitioner-advocate training model of the Counseling Psychology program at UTK. It is our hope that through this conference we can come together to deepen our collective understanding of mental health-related issues and stimulate multidisciplinary advocacy efforts to increase access to mental health services in East Tennessee. 

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Thank You to Our Sponsors!

We are very grateful to receive funding from:

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The UT College of Social Work

The UT Division of Social Sciences

The UT Psychology Department

The UT Haines-Morris Endowment

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)