Kindred Place Sees Surge in Mental Health Demand Across Mid-South
Community Responds to Reopening with Overwhelming Need for Counseling Support
MEMPHIS, TN — In less than three months since its reopening in January 2025, Kindred Place has experienced a surge in mental health service requests, affirming both the depth of trauma in the Memphis community and the urgent need for access to affordable, trauma-informed care.
Kindred Place, which operates under the umbrella of the SchoolSeed Foundation, has already served 91 clients in-person through individual counseling, group sessions, and parenting programs. An even greater number of individuals are reaching out through the organization’s online intake system, highlighting a community in crisis and a city desperately seeking healing.
“Our phones are ringing daily. People are not just calling—they're completing intake forms and showing up at our doors because they need help now,” said Dr. Sharon Griffin, Executive Director of Program Implementation for Kindred Place. “We are seeing children dealing with anxiety, teenagers navigating peer pressure and trauma, and adults—many of them parents—who did not know where to go, a safe place to process their pain until now. This tells us there’s a deep wound across our community, and Kindred Place is stepping into that gap to help.”
Data collected from January through March shows a broad cross-section of demographics being served. Clients range from as young as 8 years old to individuals in their 60s. The largest group, young adults ages 19–30, make up a significant portion of in-person and online service seekers. Services offered include individual therapy, anger management for men, domestic violence recovery for women, and bilingual parenting classes—all designed to stabilize families and build emotional resilience.
Vincent J. McCaskill, President and CEO of the SchoolSeed Foundation, emphasized the importance of sustainable mental health infrastructure for Memphis. “We are not just reopening a center—we’re rebuilding a lifeline for families,” McCaskill said. “SchoolSeed believes that strong families create strong communities, and Kindred Place is proof of that commitment. We’re investing in people who need someone to walk with them through life’s most difficult moments—and we’re doing it with licensed professionals who care.”
The rise in both in-person visits and online intake forms comes at a time when many local providers are experiencing long waitlists or limited access for uninsured individuals. Kindred Place offers a sliding fee scale and is actively expanding its clinical team to meet growing demand. Leadership hopes that continued community support—through philanthropic donations, public grants, and partnerships—will ensure no one is turned away.
“Whether it’s a teen struggling with identity or a mother healing from years of domestic violence, they all deserve access to quality care,” said Dr. Griffin. “That’s the mission, and we’re here for it.”
To learn more about Kindred Place or to schedule an appointment, visit www.kindred-place.org or call 901-276-2200.