October 2024 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN)

Call to Action

Throughout the fall season, TSPN will coordinate a special classroom series of virtual Zero Suicide information sessions. This seven-part series will provide a foundational overview of the Zero Suic ide framework.

These sessions are geared toward those curious about Zero Suicide with little or no knowledge of the framework. Agencies that have already adopted Zero Suicide but need assistance coordinating and implementing certain steps may also benefit from the series. We particularly want to increase engagement with agencies and providers in rural parts of Tennessee.

For our call to action this month, please contact and encourage others to contact TSPN’s Report Analyst Lisa Kling at LKling@tspn.org for registration or more information about previous sessions. We plan to provide more advanced sessions later in the year. The entire series schedule is available below.

With gratitude,

Anna C. Sever

Data - Driven Quality Improvement in Zero Suicide, 10/7/2024, 10:00am – 11:30am CDT

Zero Suicide: Lead, Train, Identify, Engage & Treat, 10/14/2024, 10:00am – 10:40am. This is a combination of small videos discussing 5 elements of Zero Suicide
Leading Change Toward Better Suicide Care Management, The Zero Suicide Bullseye, Zero Suicide in Health and Behavioral Health Care, Why Train, Screening Protocol at Centerstone, Modifying your Electronic Health Records, Suicide Care Insights, EBPs in Indian Country

Zero Suicide Outcomes and Opportunities, 10/21/2024, 10:00am – 11:00am CDT

Getting Further with Zero Suicide: Care Pathways
Part 1, 10/28/2024, 10:00am -11:00am CDT
Part 2, 11/4/2024 , 10:00am – 11:00am CDT
Part 3, 11/18/2024, 10:00am -11:00am CDT
Part 4, 11/25/2024, 10:00am -11:00am CDT

In this issue

Report on our statewide conference
Highlights from Suicide Prevention Awareness Month events
Online resources for insurance coverage of mental health

and more!

TSPN Statewide Conference

Over 200 people attended TSPN's statewide conference held on September 27 at Trevecca Community Church in Nashville. This year's theme was "Elevating Hope and Help for High-Risk Populations" and focused on people with backgrounds, life experiences, and social stressors associated with increased risk of suicide. We plan to expand on this theme during next year's conference.

TSPN Executive Director Anna Sever (left) introduces Regional Directors from across the state as they provide brief updates on their regions’ work to reach high-risk populations in their communities.

Executive Director Anna Sever (left) introduces Marie Williams, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). The Commissioner provided a keynote address ahead of swearing in Advisory Council members for the 2024-25 term.

The central office plans to send out a special announcement introducing new and current AC members next month. In the meantime, we have updated the Advisory Council roster on our website with current contact information.

Keynote from DOH Commissioner

Ralph Alvarado, MD, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, provided an additional keynote address, reviewing the overall priorities of his department alongside specific objectives related to mental health and suicide prevention.

Double awards for Gwen Hamer

TSPN co-founder and longtime volunteer Gwen Hamer received both this year’s Intra-State

Departmental Group Award and the statewide Ken and Madge Tullis, MD, Suicide Prevention Award.

Dr. Audrey Elion (left), Advisory Council Chair of the Greater Memphis Region, presented both awards to her friend and colleague, Gwen.

Presentations

Sarah Gaer, a nationally regarded suicide prevention and mental health activist and author, discusses how to

support men in high-risk professions such as first responders, farmers, miners, and construction workers.

Anne Young, Director of Recovery Support Services for Knoxville’s Metro Drug Coalition and a member of TSPN’s Advisory Council, demonstrates how to integrate C-SSRS and the Stanley Brown Safety Plan into a plan for a coordinated assessment and risk

prevention procedure strategy.

TSPN thanks its conference supporters!

Congratulations to the

2024 Statewide and Regional Suicide Prevention Award winners!

Madge and Ken Tullis Award: Gwen Hamer

Community Partner Award: 4thirTEEN Ministries

Intra-State Departmental Group Award: Gwen Hamer

Media Award: Lexi Lepof, WVLT-TV

East Region: Nancy Truitt

Greater Memphis: JeCarta Suggs

Mid-Cumberland: Alexis Hill

Northeast: Dr. Barb Sims

Northwest: Amy Richardson

South Central: Nicole Miller

Southeast: Amy Kyriakidis

Southwest: Parker Pearce

Upper Cumberland: Mark Farley

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Across Tennessee

Mid-Cumberland Region

Mid-Cumberland Regional Director Darrell Bouldin (second from left) displays the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month proclamation signed by Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Mayor Freddie O'Connell (second from right). Also pictured are Executive Director Anna Sever (far left) and Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn.

TSPN's central office has received over 90 proclamations from county and city governments, school systems, and universities. Stay tuned for a special email digest with more information about this year's proclamation project.

East Region

TSPN partnered with the East Tennessee Coalition on Children and Youth to present "Inspiring Hope Together" on September 4 at Calhoun's on the River in Knoxville. Presenters included TSPN Executive Director Anna Sever (back row center) and Monte Burks (back row right), Deputy Director of the Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

Others featured: East Regional Director Taylor Murmann (back row left); former East Regional Director Dr. Emily Hager (front row left); Advisory Council member Anne Young (front row center); and Advisory Council Vice-Chair Scott Payne.

Mid-Cumberland and Greater Nashville Regions

This photo is from "Trousdale Remembers," part of the kickoff for a Remembrance Tree awareness campaign spanning the Mid-Cumberland and Greater Nashville Regions in September.

The Trousdale County event had the support of Volunteer Behavioral Health, Trousdale County Schools, the Trousdale County Health Department and Hartsville-Trousdale County Mayor Jack McCall.

Advisory Council member Brenda Harper (second from left) appeared in a video produced for Wilson County Television describing the Remembrance Tree project.

Upper Cumberland Region

The annual "Light to Hope" observance in Cookeville has been one of TSPN's most enduring Suicide Prevention Awareness Month projects. Featured here from left to right: Regional Advisory Council Chair Anne Stamps, Regional Director Mike Anderson, and local volunteer Angela Rector. All are wearing locally produced T-shirts promoting 988 and UC Recovery.

Mid-Cumberland Region

The Robertson County Health Council has subcontracted with TSPN to develop and promote ESSENCE Response Plans throughout the county.

They created this promotional flyer as part of an inter-agency collaboration to spread awareness of ESSENCE. This flyer was distributed at the Health Council's September 11 meeting.

Greater Memphis Region

USL Championship soccer club Memphis 901 FC hosted TSPN as its charity of the night during its September 11 home game against Hartford Athletic, streamed on ESPN+.

TSPN thanks club representative Josh Curtis for helping us coordinate this outreach opportunity.

Northeast Region

Advisory Council member Sherri Feathers (in background on right) moderates a discussion between faith and mental health leaders on collaboration for suicide prevention. The discussion took place during the the Northeast Region's Resilient Minds Summit on September 17 at Summit Leadership in Johnson City. The event included a free Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training for guests and a resource fair including roughly 25 vendors. .

Northwest Region

Students at UT-Martin sign the "You Belong Here" banner during the college's Care Team Cookout and Kick Off for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, organized in part by TSPN's Northwest Region.

The banner was displayed on campus and during outreach activities and events throughout September.

Bakery sales benefit TSPN

Nothing Bundt Cakes worked with TSPN to coordinate a community giveback day on October 10 (World Mental Health Day).

The bakery designated 15 percent of sales at its five Middle Tennessee locations to TSPN.

At left is a poster from the promotion. TSPN thanks Kayce Owens, General Manager of the Brentwood location, for helping us make the most of this opportunity.

Post-hurricane mental health resources

TSPN is promoting mental health resources available in East Tennessee following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26-27. Thank you to Regional Directors Cori Johnson of the Northeast Region and Taylor Murmann of the East Region for staying in touch with colleagues in their community who are working tirelessly to respond to people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

C-SSRS is a short questionnaire to estimate someone's suicide risk and options for support. Anyone can use it, even if they don't have formal mental health training.

TSPN offers a set of printed quick-reference badges featuring the C-SSRS questions. You can add it to your lanyard with your other badges or keep it in your wallet. Visit tspn.org/cssrs to order badges for your agency or event or to register for a 1-2 hour training to learn the finer points of the C-SSRS protocol.

TSPN's Southwest Region invites you to "Regaining Our Footing: Creating Wellness in Ourselves and Our Communities" scheduled for 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Central at Freed Hardeman University in Henderson. This event is an opportunity for people recovering from physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges to discover how to empower both themselves and their communities. Full conference details and registration are available at the online registration portal.

The South Central Region's event "L;ve, Love, Run!" has been rescheduled for November 9 at Storytellers Hideaway Farm in Bon Aqua. Registration starts at 7 AM with the run starting at 8 AM Central.

This year's event is sponsored by Hickman County Schools, BHWA, and Storytellers Hideaway Farm and Museum. The event will feature live music, food, and resources on mental health and suicide prevention.

Registration is available via Eventbrite; Hickman County Schools staff and students may register at no charge using the promo code "freestaffstudentsLLR24".