The Flag Tours Tennessee

On March 4, 2003, the Mental Health Flag designed and painted by Kristy Worthen was on display at the Tennessee State Capitol.

- Lt. Governor John S. Wilder

Displaying the Flag at Capitol Hill in Nashville are, from left, Anita Bertrand, executive director of the Mental Health Association; Joyce Judge, executive director of NAMI Tennessee; Mary Worthen of NAMI Arkansas; Stuart Perry, advocate from Georgia; and Kristy Worthen of Arkansas, who designed the flag.

The Tennessee Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services hosted its annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill in Nashville on March 4 starting at 9 a.m.

The day’s events included an update on the issues surrounding TennCare and TennCare Partners from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Virginia Trotter Betts and a briefing on key legislative issues. Scheduled speakers included Senator Roscoe Dixon, chairman, Legislative Oversight Committee on TennCare; Representative Joe Armstrong, chairman, House Health and Human Resources Committee; Representative Tre’ Hargett, House minority leader; and Representative Kent Coleman, a member of the House Judiciary and Commerce Committees. Meetings with individual legislators were held during the afternoon.

A keynote address was presented by nationally known mental health advocate Stuart Perry. Perry walked 1,000 miles from Americus, GA to Chicago, IL in 1999 to raise awareness of clinical depression and mental health treatment.

The coalition briefed legislators about the impact of potential changes in TennCare and TennCare Partners on consumers of mental health and substance abuse services. Advocates outlined the risks involved in cutting health care services and funding for behavioral health and sought legislative support on several key objectives.

Joyce Judge (Executive Director of NAMI-Tennessee), Mary, Kristy, and the Lt. Gov. of Tennessee

The Lt. Gov. signs the flag

The Lt. Gov's signature on the Mental Health Flag Image by: McCardinal Photo

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