KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – For many families, addressing mental health starts at home.
“Starting the conversation early and just having conversations,” said Alyssa Cheek, a mom.
Cheek and Hannah Unger, who are both moms, said they want their kids to know they can always share their feelings.
“When they’re worried about things and when they’re scared about things, you want to be that safe place that they can come to be able to talk about those things,” Cheek said.
When a family needs more than a conversation, the McNabb Family Walk-in Center is available.
“We get to see families when they’re in a crisis — feeling super powerless and out of control and sometimes hopeless. And we get the opportunity to walk through that journey with them,” said Shar Wentworth, program coordinator at McNabb Center.
The center helps children from toddlers through age 17. Wentworth said parents should watch for behavioral changes — withdrawal from friends, dropping hobbies, or statements like such as “I can’t deal with this anymore,” “my life is terrible,” or “I would be better off if I was just dead and not here anymore.”
Parents should also look physical changes, thinking pattern changes and cognitive changes.
“Ask the questions and be curious about your child’s mental health. The more that we talk about it, we’ll be able to reduce stigma,” Wentworth said.
Reducing stigma around mental health for everyone is the goal.
“The point of mental health treatment is not to fix a person. It’s not to label a person. It’s to walk alongside their journey with them,” Wentworth said. “We can reduce the stigma and know that we are in this together. Awareness is the point.”
For parents, that awareness can start with being honest with their own kids.
“I think that tells them, like, ‘oh, my mom’s — it’s normal if I am dealing with this. They’re not a perfect human either, or they will understand maybe what I’m going through, too,’” Unger said.
According to Wentworth, parents should:
Ask questions and be curious about their child’s mental healthTalk about what is going on in their child’s lifeWatch for behavioral changes, physical changes, thinking pattern changes and cognitive changesWatch for changes in peer groups or friend groupsWatch for changes in extracurricular activities children used to enjoyWatch for direct statements like “I can’t deal with this anymore,” “my life is terrible,” or “I would be better off if I was just dead and not here anymore,” Ask more questions about those thoughtsTalk about suicide and mental health to reduce stigmaOpen dialogue about mental health in generalBe curious about their child’s perception of life and their place in itTalk about safety planning within the homeSeek out additional resources when neededLock up knives, guns, over-the-counter medications and watch for risky packages your child is buying online.
The center is open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Families can walk in without calling ahead, regardless of health insurance or county. The center serves approximately 1,000 clients a year.
Copyright 2026 WVLT. All rights reserved.