March 2022 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Hi everyone! Who else is glad for warmer weather on the way? We hope the weather will be nice for our Trainer Summit in just a few weeks! We're so excited about this event, and we're very grateful to everyone who has registered to be a part of our inaugural summit. We are also excited about all the outreach opportunities our staff & volunteers have had the chance to attend and participate in all over Tennessee recently; if you're ever interested in including TSPN in your event, fair, or exhibit, just give us a shout! We love collaborating with longtime partners of TSPN as well as making connections with new organizations.

-Misty

In this issue

New hire announcement

Spring trainings & events

Youth suicide prevention & mental health links

and more!

Southeast RD Chris Edwards at Orchard Knob Middle School in Chattanooga

Chris and Chelsey Miles (Erlanger Behavior Health) at Jasper Middle School

Northeast RD Kayla Sharpe and Northeast Regional Chair Heatherly Sifford at Unicoi County High School in Erwin

Good Behavior Game Director Kearee Jackson at the 15th annual Coordinated School Health Institute

Northwest RD Emily Oswald at Crockett County High School in Alamo

Emily with the Milan Youth Coalition

Southwest RD Lindsey Carr at Children's Advocacy Days with Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth Southwest Council colleagues

Lindsey enjoying the Children's Advocacy Days theme, "Currents of Change; Rivers of Opportunity"

This month our awesome staff & volunteers got to outreach in different ways both to young people and to those who work with youth & children across the state. We love making these connections with youth as well as their caretakers & advocates!

In early March, Brandon Bruce-- a Nashville-area entertainment professional-- completed the David Goggins 4x4x48 running challenge in order to raise suicide prevention awareness and funds for TSPN. Brandon actually doubled the challenge and ran 102 miles over less than 16 hours.

Click the photo to watch a Forrest Gump spoof video Brandon created during the challenge.

Thank you, Brandon!

TSPN is excited to welcome new staff member Monika Hauck to the team. Monika serves as TSPN's Zero Suicide Initiative Director.

For over 10 years, Monika Hauck has worked in the suicide prevention space. Prior to her current position with TSPN, she served as the East Tennessee Zero Suicide Coordinator for Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee.

Monika graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of West Florida in 2016. As an undergraduate assistant, Monika found a passion for research informed practices and interventions while she worked on the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant.

Monika will graduate in June of 2022 with her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University. She is passionate about being involved in the change that is possible within various communities of which she is a part. Although now in Tennessee, Monika serves as a board member on the EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition. When not working on her degree or the coalition, Monika enjoys using her free time to travel, spend time outdoors, and hang out with her puppy, Leo.

Welcome, Monika!

Our Data & Communications Director Morgan Tubbs was recently named TSPN's new Deputy Director. Morgan has been with TSPN since August of 2020 and is excited to move into this new role. Congrats, Morgan!

TSPN's East Region, in conjunction with TN Voices & the Tennessee School of Beauty, is holding an art contest for youth & young adults this spring. This contest is designed to give students a voice to express themselves about topics like mental health, depression, and suicide.

Submissions to the contest will be presented at a show at the Pellissippi State Community College Magnolia Avenue Campus on April 30, as well as featured throughout the region.

Click here for more details!

Huge thank-you to everyone who has registered for our 2022 Trainer Summit! We are so excited to see you all in just a few short weeks at Montgomery Bell State Park. We can't wait to bring you two days filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and networking.

If you have registered for the summit, you should have received a confirmation email from us this week with travel, lodging, and agenda details, among others. If you did not receive this email, please let us know at tspn@tspn.org.