August 2022 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Hello everybody! Summer has flown by; we can't believe it's already time for students, faculty & staff, and families to prepare to return to school. In our News section this month, check out ways to protect your students' mental health this school year. We are also SO excited to let you all know more details about our statewide Suicide Prevention Awareness Month event on September 7 & 8! This year's theme is "Building a Mentally Healthy Future" and the event will be held at the Cool Springs Marriott. Find info on speakers, sponsorship, and registration below!

-Misty

In this issue

Statewide Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Event details

988 Lifeline information

Local SPA Month event details

and more!

The Southwest Region saw great success hosting their event entitled "Race and Resiliency: A Mental Health Symposium" in July. The event was held at Lane College in Jackson, TN with over 125 people present. Speakers covered a wide range of topics such as, "A Historical and Current Perspective on BIPOC Mental Health," "Financial Impacts on Mental Health," "The Intersection of Physical and Mental Health," and "Homelessness and Mental Health."

Each of these presentations highlighted racial disparities that currently exist in our culture, as well as solutions to help more individuals receive resources and support in West TN. We are thankful for the positive feedback that we've received from this event and will consider doing similar events in the future!

Our staff & volunteers enjoyed collaborating with Nashville-based nonprofit The Theater Bug to present "7 Ways to Sunday" in late July and early August. We were very excited to connect with community members and make them aware of available mental health & suicide prevention resources in a creative way.

It's back to school season! Our staff & volunteers (big and small!) are out in their communities making sure students, families, and faculty & staff are set up for success this school year.

Northeast Regional Director Kayla Sharpe at the Elizabethton City Schools Back to School Bash, along with her nephews and past TSPN intern Chesnee Lawson

Northwest Regional Director Emily Oswald with her daughter at the Crockett County Back to School Bash

Youth Mental Health First Aid training at UT Southern in the South Central region

ASIST at Bedford County Schools in the South Central region

We are so excited to announce the newest addition to our team. Manny Ehiemua now serves as the Mid-Cumberland Regional Director.

Emmanuel (Manny) Ehiemua is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and is one of three children born to Nigerian-American parents. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Pre-Med from Fisk University and Master of Education from Lipscomb University.

Emmanuel’s previously held positions include Parent Involvement Coordinator, Metropolitan Action Commission; Community Outreach Specialist for the MNPS Board of Education; and Director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Tennessee Department of Health.

A community advocate, Emmanuel has served on TSPN’s Suicide Prevention in the African American Faith Communities Coalition, Alignment Nashville’s Refugee and Immigrant Support Services Committee, and is a former Health Committee Chair for the Nashville Branch of the NAACP.

Welcome, Manny!

If you are...

a mental health professional

a suicide prevention advocate

a licensed professional counselor/therapist

or just looking to get more involved in suicide prevention in your community

...then this event is for you!

Join us for our statewide Suicide Prevention Awareness Month event

September 7 & 8 at the Cool Springs Marriott

On Sept. 7, we will hold our September 2022 Advisory Council meeting. We will also hear from a very special guest, Dr. Richard McKeon, Branch Chief for Suicide Prevention for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

During the evening of the 7th, we will host our Regional Suicide Prevention Award ceremony, and enjoy the magical talents of John Midgley, the Mental Health Magician.

On Sept. 8, we will hear suicide prevention updates from state and nationwide programs, including our two keynote presenters: