TSPN is asking for your help to support House Bill 948, a.k.a. the Ken and Madge Tullis Suicide Prevention Training Act of 2017. We ask that you, our members, call your representatives to ask for their support of this bill.
Community members send their loved ones to licensed professionals assuming these professionals have the training necessary to prevent suicide, but often they do not-they are neither trained in suicide prevention nor are they comfortable handling actively suicidal persons. The proposed legislation addresses the knowledge gap often found in licensed professionals working with individuals at risk of suicide by integrating suicide prevention training into their licensure requirements.
This legislation will require licensed professionals to work with training programs in suicide risk prevention, assessment, treatment, and management to better prepare them to work with at risk individuals to prevent suicide in the state of Tennessee. It specifically includes 2 hours of training in prevention, intervention, or postvention every two years as approved by their respective boards. These training hours would not be added on top of the existing requirements, but inserted into the trainings currently required. The training would promote familiarity and comfort with known warning signs, risk factors, and other well founded aspects of suicide prevention and intervention.
We hope that you reach out to your representative today to assist in getting this bill passed to help save lives in Tennessee.
TSPN would especially appreciate you reaching out to these members of the
House Health Committee:
- Ron Gant (R-Rossville); (615) 741-6890 or
- Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville); (615) 741-7480 or
- John Holsclaw (R-Elizabethton); (615) 741-7450 or
- Sherry Jones (D-Nashville); (615) 741-2035 or
- Bob Ramsey (R-Maryville); (615) 741-3560 or
- Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) (Committee Chair); (615) 741-2343 or rep.cameron.sexton@capitol.tn.gov
- Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville); (615) 741-1875 or
We would also appreciate your outreach to these members of the House Health Subcommittee:
- Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) (Subcommittee Chair); (615) 741-2180 or rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
- JoAnne Favors (D-Chattanooga); (615) 741-2702 or
- Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough); (615) 741-2251 or
- Paul Sherrell (R-Sparta); (615) 741-1963 or
Finally, we would like to thank
Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), the lead sponsor of the Tullis Act in the House, as well as the following co-sponsors:
Raukesh Akbari (D-Memphis), Sheila Butt (R-Columbia), Karen Camper (D-Memphis), Glen Casada (R-Franklin), John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), John DeBerry (D-Memphis), Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville), G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis), David Hawk (R-Greeneville), Darren Jernigan (D-Nashville), Roger Kane (R-Knoxville), Sabi Kumar (R-Springfield), Mary Littleton (R-Dickson), Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads), Bo Mitchell (D-Nashville), Jason Powell (D-Nashville), John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge), Charles Sargent (R-Franklin), and Rick Staples (D-Knoxville).