February 2021 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Hey, everybody! We have a lot of new initiatives in the works this month at TSPN. You may have already seen a TSPN billboard come up in your neck of the woods, and pretty soon, you may see an indoor ad or a PSA on a local news station sponsored by TSPN. We are really excited to be spreading the word about suicide prevention resources in new ways. We are also observing Black History Month as well as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month this February, so be sure to check out related news and resources in our newsletter and on our social media. Thanks for everything you wonderful folks do!

-Misty

The Tennessee School of Beauty wrapped up their fundraising event benefiting TSPN in January. $2,500 was raised through their efforts! We could not be more grateful and honored to have benefited from their hard work, and we are so thankful to TSB and friends in the Knoxville area for their dedication to raising suicide prevention awareness.

Pictured is Stephen Brown, whose brother Logan died by suicide in 2014. The Brown family has served in leadership of the Tennessee School of Beauty since 1930.

Insight Screening, a small business that works with human resource agencies, has placed TSPN on their website as a charitable giving partner. From the team at Insight Screening:

"It is our privilege and responsibility to lift up the most vulnerable populations within our community, and suicide prevention is near to all of our hearts. Each of the three owners of Insight have been personally affected by suicide and experienced the devastation that it creates not only in the life of the victim, but in the aftermath for surviving family and friends. Every life is valuable, and each individual is irreplaceable; and so it is our honor to assist where we can in helping the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network bring a light to those in a dark place."

On February 4, TSPN participated in a collaborative effort to share mental health resources and spread hope. During a food distribution event led by Red Bank United Methodist Church in Hamilton county, volunteers handed out mental health resources and other goodies to 1,000 people receiving food. TSPN participated in this event along with Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, NAMI Chattanooga, Hamilton County Coalition, Mental Health Cooperative, and Centerstone.

Submissions are now being accepted for this year's Love Never Dies Memorial Quilt. This statewide project began in 2006.

The Memorial Quilt is made up of those we have lost to suicide who either lived in Tennessee or have family in Tennessee. This quilt is a beautiful way ensure that our loved ones live on. If you are interested in submitting your loved one to appear on this year's quilt, please email TSPN Emeritus member Karyl Chastain Beal at karylofcolumbia@cs.com.

Pictured is the 17th Memorial Quilt, dedicated in September 2020.

Dr. Jamie Scott Jenkins is running 52 miles over 48 hours in March to raise suicide prevention awareness. Dr. Jenkins is an avid runner as well as a former track coach and teacher; he now serves as the executive principal at East Magnet High School in Nashville. We're thrilled to support Dr. Jenkins in this endeavor!

Find out more about the run and follow along with his journey here.

TSPN says a bittersweet goodbye this month to our longtime regional director Tosha Gurley. Tosha helped TSPN grow into the statewide network it has become today in countless ways. She has served with TSPN for five years, and in that time, the impact she has made in the world of suicide prevention and mental health advocacy--both in West Tennessee and throughout the state--is immeasurable. We will miss Tosha and her fierce leadership, but we wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

From Tosha: "It has been one of the most difficult decisions to leave TSPN. I have grown professional and personally as result of my experience with TSPN and I am forever grateful for the opportunity. I have spent time reflecting on the work we have accomplished, and I am proud that Tennessee is one of the leading states for suicide prevention. I consider it a blessing to have met many of you along this journey.

I have decided to go home and help my husband build a new addition to our business. You are welcome to follow our adventure at Southland Safari Cabin Rentals & Guided Tours. My new contact information for Southland Safari is booking@southlandsafari.com. Our website will be complete very soon! If you want to reach me personally you may email me at tosha.gurley3@live.com.

Worry less, adventure more!"

UPCOMING TRAININGS & MEETINGS

February 16

Memphis/Shelby County Regional Meeting

Email jjohnson@tspn.org for details

February 16

Northwest Regional Meeting

Email tspn@tspn.org for details

February 17

Southwest Regional Meeting

Email lcarr@tspn.org for details

February 18

East Regional Meeting

Email catherine_rosas-valentino@bcbst.com for details

February 24

NE QPR training with Project Access

Click here for details

February 25

Northeast Regional Meeting

Email mcolley@tspn.org for details

February 25

Upper Cumberland Regional Meeting

Email manderson@tspn.org for details

March 3

SC ACEs, Resilience and Suicide Risk training

Click here for details

March 4

Southeast Regional Meeting

Email rgearinger@tspn.org for details

March 4

NE ACEs, Resilience and Suicide Risk training

Click here for details

March 10

South Central Regional Meeting

Email mchristian@tspn.org for details

March 11

Mid-Cumberland Regional Meeting

Email geakin@tspn.org for details

Knoxville police and McNabb Center co-responder program aims to fight mental health stigma

TN Voices honors Black mental health leaders for Black History Month

Call to Action on Suicide Prevention

How Black barbers have become mental health advocates for African American men

VIDEO: TSPN July-Dec 2020 Report

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Love Is Respect: Healthy Relationships

We would like to recognize the following donors & sponsors for their generous contributions toward suicide prevention in Tennessee

Cara Perkins

East Tennessee Commission

on Children and Youth

Jonathan Clemmons

Remembered by his mother, Terrye Fitts

Jonathan loved fishing & hunting, played little league baseball, and rode horses at the Saddle Club. He enjoyed all the normal things active little boys like to do.

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