May 2025 Call to Action

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

May issue

Executive Director's call to action
Photos from statewide events and conferences
Pictures from local events across Tennessee
News about upcoming training sessions and conferences

and more!

Photo of Anna Sever, TSPN Executive Director

Call to Action

TSPN joins our fellow mental health agencies across Tennessee and the country in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month. The monthlong observance raises awareness about the prevalence of mental illness and seeks to dispel the stigma attached to its diagnosis and treatment. Suicide prevention and education are part of this awareness effort.

We are doing our part to spread awareness across Tennessee by unveiling a

30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) produced in collaboration with voice actor Nancy-Lynne Walters of Your Professional Voice and distributed by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters. You may soon hear this PSA on your favorite local radio station. TSPN is grateful to Nancy-Lynne and TAB for their contributions to this project.

You are welcome to share the PSA found at our home page at tspn.org.

Additionally, TSPN encourages you to visit our online resource page, where you will discover a wealth of suicide prevention and mental health resources for the general public and specific populations. You can find resources on that page and by clicking the "Resources" tab at the top right and exploring the drop-down menu.

Please also stay tuned for information about TSPN’s annual statewide conference, planned in Nashville on Thursday and Friday, September, 4-5 at a venue to be announced.

We thank you for your efforts to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.

With gratitude,

Anna C. Sever

TSPN hosts annual Advisory Council retreat

TSPN staff and Advisory Council members spent two days in a strategic planning retreat at Fall Creek Falls State Park on May 12-14.

TSPN's Advisory Council supports our mission to provide suicide prevention resources and education with boots on the ground support at the local level.

Together we worked on shaping the organization’s future growth and expanding its impact across Tennessee. TSPN thanks everyone for all your work!

Thanks to Dr. Stephanie Evans for sharing the Outreach Committee photo above, in the middle.

TSPN staffers attend NatCon25 convention

TSPN staff joined leadership of the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services (TAADAS) at NatCon25, the annual convention of the National Council on Mental Wellbeing, held May 5-7 in Philadelphia. We appreciated the chance to connect with advocates, providers and partners representing mental health, substance use, and crisis response sectors from across the country. We enjoyed sharing experiences and strategies for enhancing our work on local and statewide levels.

Above, TAADAS Executive Director Mary Linden Salter (second from right) joins staff of TSPN for a group photo. Also pictured, from left to right: South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian, Southeast Regional Director Bryan Barks, Youth Programs Director Kearee Jackson, and Executive Director Anna Sever.

Greater Memphis Region

The region thanks the Collective Healing Space, a local counseling service, for sponsoring lunch at its April 17 regional meeting. Dr. Archandria Owens (center), the practice's founder, received a certificate of appreciation from Regional Director Justin Johnson (left) and Regional Chair Dr. Audrey Elion.

Visit the Collective Healing Space website to find out more about the individual, group, and couples counseling services it offers and the variety of therapies available.

TSPN sent a delegation to the Dennis H. Jones Living Well Network’s annual Mental Health Breakfast, held April 8 at the Hilton Memphis. Tom Voss, a U.S. Army veteran and advocate for the use of mindfulness and meditation in PTSD recovery headlined the event.

The breakfast also included a presentation by M. David Rudd, Ph.D, ABPP, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and President Emeritus at the University of Memphis.

Pictured alongside Mr. Voss (above, middle) is Dr. Elion and Advisory Council member Allison White, supervisor of the Living Well Network within Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

Greater Nashville Region

Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn presents suicide prevention information as part of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for Nashville International Airport's Department of Public Safety on April 23.

She co-led this session with South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian.

Northwest Region

The Northwest Region's awareness float made its formal parade season debut at the World's Biggest Fish Fry, held in Paris on April 25 (above).

We appreciate the support of the Carroll County Prevention Coalition in helping arrange TSPN's appearance at this event.

In the photo above to the left, Regional Director Emily Jernigan is shown at center, holding the sign with the white background. The awareness float also appeared at the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival on May 9 in Humboldt (at right).

Introducing our Advisory Council members

TSPN recently published a set of introductory profiles of current Advisory Council members, soon to be circulated on our social media. We invite you to review the original announcement featuring all the profiles at once. We are honored to introduce this group of people devoted to supporting our programs, expanding awareness, and creating a community of hope throughout Tennessee.

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is hosting a free virtual training event for mental health professionals and healthcare providers interested in implementing

Zero Suicide protocols within their agencies.

The training will be held on Friday, May 23, running from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Central. Our facilitator for this session is Anna Lieber, MS, LCMHC, NCC/CCMHC, Clinical Director at Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

You may register for this event at https://tinyurl.com/ZeroSuicide2025. Any questions about our event may be directed to tspn@tspn.org.

This event is an excellent opportunity to learn critical skills necessary for building a Zero Suicide framework into a healthcare setting, or for refining existing procedures and treatment. Your participation in this event can help you, your staff, and your facility prevent suicide and improve lives. We look forward to seeing you there!

TSPN's Northeast Region is hosting a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training session on May 28 at the Summit Leadership Foundation, located at 3515 Bristol Highway in Johnson City. The session will run from 8 AM-5 PM Eastern.

Find out more about MHFA training via the platform's official website.

Pre-registration for this event is available at https://tinyurl.com/nhhpseyu.

All questions about the event may be directed to Northeast Regional Director

Cori Johnson at cjohnson@tspn.org or 615-780-5901, extension 127.

The upcoming virtual meeting of Tennessee Brighter Futures (TBF) will include a presentation on suicide prevention, specifically the intersectionality between suicide and brain injury.

TBF is a statewide group of agencies and organizations that help people who may have multiple diagnoses or needs. TBF is organized and facilitated by Brain Links through a contract from the Tennessee Department of Health TBI Program.

The meeting will convene on Thursday, July 10, from 1:00-2:30 PM Central. You may join the meeting via the Zoom link on the invitation or email TBF directly at tbi@tndisability.org.

In advance of the meeting, we encourage you to review these flyers offering

an overview of TBF and the connections between brain injury and mental health.

UPCOMING REGIONAL MEETINGS

May 22, June 26, July 24

Northeast Regional Meeting

Email cjohnson@tspn.org for details

May 22, June 26, July 24

Upper Cumberland Regional Meeting

Email manderson@tspn.org for details

May 28, June 18, July 16

Southwest Regional Meeting

Email elunn@tspn.org for details