April 2025 Call to Action

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

April Issue

Executive Director's Call to Action
Photos from conferences and training sessions
ESSENCE Alerts highlighted as national model
Achievements and regional updates

and more!

Photo of Anna Sever, TSPN Executive Director

Call to Action

Great news! TSPN is joining forces with consultant Anna Lieber to offer an engaging and practical day-long training on May 23 for healthcare and mental health professionals who want to make a difference in suicide prevention.

This isn't just another dry webinar—it's a chance to gain real skills that could help save lives in your practice or community.

In the morning, mental health pros will dive into "Chronic Suicidal Presentation: Clinical Approaches to Hope and Healing." If you've ever felt challenged when working with someone who has ongoing thoughts of suicide, this session is for you. You'll understand why people feel this way, how to truly connect with them, and most importantly, how to help restore hope. From risk assessments to treatment strategies that actually work, you'll leave with a toolbox of approaches you can use right away.

The afternoon welcomes all healthcare providers for "From Risk to Response: Suicide Prevention Across Care Settings." Did you know many people who die by suicide saw a healthcare provider just a month before? That means YOU could be in a position to help. Through real-life examples and hands-on practice, you'll learn simple screening methods, safety planning, and how to connect patients with the support they need.

Join us for this training that could transform how you help those in crisis. Together, we can build a safer, more hopeful Tennessee!

Mark your calendar for May 23 and watch your email for webinar registration and details.

With gratitude,

Anna C. Sever

Staff connects, learns from national AAS conference

TSPN staff attended the American Association of Suicidology's annual conference held March 30-April 4 in Columbus, Ohio. It provided our staff with opportunities to connect with suicide prevention professionals in other states and tap into the latest research and trends in the field.

TSPN Youth Programs Director Kearee Jackson (left) and Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn (right) pose for a photo with Mark LoMurray, CEO of Sources of Strength, following his presentation at the conference.

ASIST training yields more in-state instructors

Several TSPN staff and community members took part in TSPN's Trainer Summit held at the TSPN office April 7-11. At top, guests at our Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Training for Trainers course pose for a group photo at the end of the week. At bottom, participants compare notes during the QPR instructor course offered during the Summit.

TSPN now has several additional instructors certified to co-lead ASIST training sessions across the state. Find out more about ASIST and how to bring a session to your workplace or community via our website: https://tspn.org/events-training

(ASIST T4T photo courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Evans)

Sources of Strength highlighted at school health conference

The Coordinated School Health Conference held March 5-7 at Nashville's Renaissance Hotel included an interactive Sources of Strength presentation facilitated by TSPN staff (see photo at left).

Every school district in the state was represented at this conference, with several district leaders in attendance.

We are indebted to Youth Programs Director Kearee Jackson, South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian, and Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn for promoting Sources of Strength at this event and others across the state.

Sources of Strength (SOS) is a research-informed, upstream prevention program focused on promoting resiliency.

Four TSPN staff have been certified as trainers in the platform. TSPN has trained eleven schools or youth-serving agencies for the program but needs fifteen to fulfill its state contract by August 31st.

TSPN can offer over a $6,000 value per eligible organization to provide SOS training.

Anyone interested in SOS within Tennessee may contact Kearee who serves as Sources of Strength's liaison for TSPN. Kearee may be reached directly at kjackson@tspn.org or 615-780-5901, extension 128, for guidance in bringing Sources of Strength to your community.

At left, a candid photo with Mary Anne (standing at right); Lou Paschall, social worker for Manchester City Schools, and their respective service dogs, Daisy and Jasper.

State suicide alert system highlighted as national model

Tennessee's health monitoring tracking system and its partnership with TSPN were the subject of a national case study by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). The case study, "Harnessing Near Real-Time Data for Effective Suicide Prevention Efforts", is available for review at https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/Harnessing-Near-Real-Time-Data-Handout-Example.pdf.

In Tennessee, 100% of emergency departments report health data, including suicide-related data, to the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE). The TSPN ESSENCE Director sends alerts to communities where local emergency departments have reported spikes in suicide-related behavior. Alerts include information on suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm for each county, organized by age brackets. The alerts include links to webpages with state and local resources alongside contact information for TSPN's regional suicide prevention directors. Meanwhile, TSPN helps communities develop rapid response plans.

"Through Tennessee’s robust ESSENCE and listserv notification system, communities across the state are better prepared to respond to increases in suicide-related behaviors," the case study reads.

Anyone can sign up for ESSENCE Alerts via the TSPN website (https://www.tspn.org/essence-sign-up-forms) and select the county or counties for which they would like to receive reports.

TSPN is grateful for all staff and volunteers who have helped promote the program, and it extends a special thanks to TSPN ESSENCE Director Shauna Greer for her diligence in managing and transmitting the alerts.

Greater Memphis Region

TSPN was among the exhibitors at the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, held March 27 at the Bartlett YMHCA. More than 75 local businesses were represented.

In the above photo at left, Greater Memphis Regional Director Justin Johnson (left) poses next to TSPN's table at the event, alongside Juliea Goodman, the Public Safety Answering Point Director for the Bartlett Police Department (center) and Dr. Audrey Elion, TSPN's Greater Memphis Regional Chair.

At right, Justin is pictured with two delegates from Lakeside Behavioral Health: Mackenzi Isom, Assistant Director of Business Development & Marketing, and Angela Quadrani, Director of Business Development.

Northeast Region

From the Facebook feed of the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition on March 25: "We had a great day of Sources of Strength training with our friends from Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network! We are grateful for the youth who spent a Spring Break day learning with us!"

TSPN Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn and Northeast Regional Director Cori Johnson appear in the photo on the left, kneeling at the left and right sides of the banner respectively. Standing directly above Cori is Sources of Strength National Trainer TaNisha Parker.

TSPN participated in the 3rd Annual Appalachian Veteran’s Fair held at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 26. This event provides unique resources for military veterans and their families. TSPN's booth reached over 2,000 veterans and family members with valuable resources for suicide prevention and mental health support. Our thanks to Cori Johnson for representing TSPN at this gathering.

Northwest Region

Northwest Regional Director Emily Jernigan (in top left photo, in foreground with baseball cap) collaborated with Advisory Council members and the Lake and Lauderdale Health Departments on March 18 to build a parade float for the upcoming local parade season.

This year's theme is "Striking Out Suicides." The float's messaging shows a baseball diamond with bases filled with "Education, Reduce Stigma, and Prevention."

TSPN's Greater Memphis Region is offering a safeTALK session on May 1 from 12-5 PM Central at the Collierville VFW, located at 347 South Center Street.

safeTALK is a half-day training program that teaches participants to recognize and engage persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and connect them with community resources trained in suicide prevention. safeTALK stresses safety while challenging taboos that inhibit open talk about suicide.

Participants cannot be younger than 15 and must attend the full training. Registration fees are non-refundable.

The National Academies' Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences will host a one-day public workshop on Best Practices for Implementation and Evaluation of a Non-Clinical Community-Based Suicide Prevention Grants Program on Tuesday, April 29, from 8 AM-4 PM Central / 9 AM-5 PM Eastern.

Workshop participants will examine what is known about best practices and strategies to support the full life cycle of non-clinical, community-based suicide prevention grant programs. Topics will include:

Program development and oversight
Grantee-level implementation
Performance metrics
Program evaluation
Communicating program results

This workshop will bring together experts from across sectors to explore how to strengthen the impact and accountability of community-based suicide prevention efforts through improved implementation and evaluation.

The event will take place in person in Washington, DC, and will also be available via live webcast.

Mental Health America of the MidSouth has 24 seats available for an online video training in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) framework.

The three-hour video course demonstrates of the CAMS model as presented by its creator, Dr. David A. Jobes. The training experience combines an overview of the framework with an unscripted clinical demonstration with an actual patient. The sessions portrayed demonstrate the collaborative process essential to CAMS Assessment® and CAMS Treatment® as well as potential challenges clinicians face when working with suicidal patients.

This self-paced course provides $135 in value and offers 3 hours of CEUs. Interested parties should fill out the application to ensure they meet MHA MidSouth grant requirements. Additional information on the course is available in the product summary on the CAMS training website.

Further details are available from Harper-Grace Rice at (205) 718-4885 or hrice@mhamidsouth.org.

UPCOMING REGIONAL MEETINGS

May 1 and June 5

Southeast Regional Meeting

Email bbarks@tspn.org for details

May 8 and June 12

South Central Regional Meeting

Email mchristian@tspn.org for details

May 20 and June 17

Greater Memphis Regional Meeting

Email jjohnson@tspn.org for details

May 20 and June 17