May was a month of overhauling our data collection processes to streamline them for our staff and volunteers, creating a dashboard so our regional directors can bring you monthly updates regarding where we are at regarding training our communities, and attending a conference in LA, California to gain knowledge in our respective roles. Also in this issue will be a sneak peak at the June retreat through photos!

Special reminder:

The Suicide Memorial Quilt for Tennessee: 2023 Have you lost someone you love to suicide? We’re ready to create a new memorial quilt for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. This quilt is specifically to remember Tennessee residents who died by suicide or people who died by suicide when their loved ones are Tennessee residents. If you’ve lost a family member or loved one to suicide and would like to honor the person’s memory by having a quilt square on this quilt, Contact Karyl Chastain Beal at karylofcolumbia@cs.com to ask for the quilt square directions. The dedication of the 2023 quilt is scheduled for November 4, 2023 in Nashville, with loved ones who submitted invited to attend. 

In this issue

Statistics and resources for LGBT+ Population

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Training and awareness events across the state

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and more!

The LGBT+ Community and Suicide

Research suggests that 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide (Austin et al., 2022), Johns Et Al., 2020, suggests that LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health suggests that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.



In their June Newsletter, AAS stated:

Factors contributing to suicidality for LGBT+ individuals include but are not limited to: discrimination; homophobia; violence; gender nonconformity; societal attitudes and supportive policies; family; religious persecution and a harmful school community. While protective factors include but not limited to: family support and acceptance of one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity; safety and connections in school setting; positive social supports and role models; cultural and/or religious beliefs and culturally competent care (The Trevor Project, 2022).

Whether you are part of the LGBT+ community, want more information, or are an ally wanting to know how to support someone you love, here are links to organizations who can provide a multitude of resources and guidance.

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/

https://translifeline.org/resources/

https://www.lgbtqcenters.org/

https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/

https://siecus.org/

Photo from NATCON 2023

ASIST in Memphis Greater Region

SafeTALK at UT Southern

Members of Greater Memphis Region AC and Regional Director, Justin Johnson, at the June retreat.

Photo from the June AC meeting featuring the 988 banner!

Chair, Dr. Audrey Elion and Director of Operations, Monika Hauck, at the June retreat.

June 15: East TN Regional Meeting

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-regional-tspn-meeting-tickets-515154700577?aff=oddtdtcreator

June 20: Greater Memphis Regional Meeting

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tspn-greater-memphis-regional-meeting-tickets-651154369247?aff=oddtdtcreator

June 22: ASIST training in Memphis

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asist-training-in-memphistn-tickets-638083293307?aff=oddtdtcreator

June 26: Tipton County Suicide Prevention Training

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tipton-county-suicide-prevention-training-tickets-623720995287?aff=oddtdtcreator

June 29: ASIST training in Shelbyville

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asist-training-shelbyville-tickets-651256223897?aff=oddtdtcreator

July 21st: Do the Work: Fostering Child Wellness in your Community

Sign up at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/583960600877

October 25: Answering the Call: First Responder Task Force 2nd Annual Conference

Sign up at: https://answeringthecall2023.eventbrite.com?aff=oddtdtcreator

November 4: Growing and Healing for survivors of Suicide Loss Statewide Event

Details to come.

TSPN helped developed the Shield of Care curriculum, which is designed to help people who work with youth in detention identify suicide warning signs, connect with them to find out the severity of the risk, and link them to available mental health and crisis response supports. 

The participant training is a one-day session, running from 9 AM to 5 PM

local time with a break for lunch. Training dates are as follows:

• Nashville: June 14
• Knoxville: June 20

Register online at https://tinyurl.com/8ks55n66

The Shield of Care T4T runs two-and-a-half days. The first day covers the updated curriculum. The second day reviews the Trainers Manual. Boosters and teach-backs begin on the second day and continue on the third half-day.

We should note that while anyone may apply to be a Shield of Care instructor,

application preference will be given to the staff of residential treatment centers (RTCs)

and juvenile detention centers (JTCs) and to existing suicide intervention trainers

with RTC or JTC experience.

• Training dates are as follows:
• Nashville: June 14-16
• Knoxville: June 20-22
• Chattanooga: June 6-8

Register online at https://tinyurl.com/3dbkjevp

National Suicide and the Black Church Conference

June June 14 – 15, 2023, at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 800 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-national-suicide-and-the-black-church-conference-2023-tickets-559702744977?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

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HHS Announces Additional $200 Million in Funding for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 5/17/23

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Jennifer Johnson 

Your financial support helps us with our work to raise awareness and prevent suicide in Tennessee. Learn more about your options for giving to TSPN.

Lawrence Wilmore