As residents of Hamilton County, we call on the Hamilton County Board of Education to reconsider its action and renew its partnership with Centerstone to provide mental health services. The mental health of students must take priority over politics.

Centerstone has served over 2600 students at no cost to Hamilton County Schools. 

Hamilton County contains the second and third most vulnerable Zip codes in the state with respect to mental well-being.

According to the State of Tennessee’s “Suicide Prevention in Tennessee 2025 Annual Report,” *Hamilton County experienced a 56% increase in the suicide rate, which was the highest in the state.

A 2023 Sycamore Institute report found that nearly one in four Tennessee high school students considered suicide in 2021.