Our History

Founded locally in 1948, the Association has been a United Way Partner Agency since 1960 and is affiliated with Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association).

During our early years the agency was focused primarily on the mental health needs of Knoxville and Knox County residents. Recognizing that people in rural areas of East Tennessee were also in need of client services, educational programs and advocacy, the board and staff worked to expand services to other communities by becoming the MHA of Greater Knoxville in 1994 and expanding again in 2003.

Today the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee serves thirty counties.

The MHA is concerned with mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring issues affecting people in urban and rural communities and has changed its name to reflect the expanded service territory.