The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) | |
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Call to Action
TSPN cordially invites all to our statewide conference, planned for 9:00 AM-2:30 PM CDT on Friday, September 27, at Trevecca Community Church in Nashville. This year’s theme is “Elevating Hope and Help for High-Risk Populations.” Subject-matter experts will discuss programs, resources, and support for individuals known to be at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
We are honored to welcome Commissioner Marie Williams of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, who will personally induct this year's members of our statewide Advisory Council, and Ralph Alvarado, MD, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, who will provide our keynote address.
The event is open to the public, and we hope to see you there! Free registration is available at 2024TSPNStatewideConferenceRegistration...For information on sponsorship levels and benefits, contact TSPN Executive Assistant Christina Allen at callen@tspn.org.
For this month's call to action, we encourage you to register yourself and share the word about our conference. We look forward to offering education and fellowship to enhance our community's awareness of and engagement in suicide prevention.
Hope to see you there!
With gratitude,
Anna C. Sever
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In this issue
- Statewide conference and Virtual 5K event
- Highlights of regional outreach and trainings
- Upcoming Suicide Prevention Awareness Month events
- Online resources for insurance coverage of mental health
and more!
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TSPN is hosting a Statewide Virtual 5k event during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September. This event will help raise both funds and awareness to further TSPN's mission to educate the community on best-practices for suicide prevention and available community support.
Because this event is virtual, you can choose to walk or run at times that work best for your schedule.
Be sure to check out details at tspn.org and our social media channels.
Thanks to our GOLD SPONSOR
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The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now featured on all buses operated by the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA). The Cookeville Herald-Citizen covered the project in its August 23 issue as shown in above photo.
TSPN is grateful to the UCHRA and the Upper Cumberland Development District for making this project possible, alongside TSPN Upper Cumberland Regional Director Michael Anderson and local TSPN Advisory Council Members, Jessica Roberson and Anne Stamps.
Roberson also arranged the local sale of T-shirts promoting the 988 number and UC Recovery. Similar T-shirts will be available for sale at our statewide conference.
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Over the past month, Lighthouse Christian Academy hosted a QPR & Mental Health 101 Training for homeschooling parents in TSPN's Northeast Region. | |
Also from our Northeast Region: TSPN provided a general information session during 4thirTEEN Ministries' Annual Retreat for its Youth Board of Directors. | |
TSPN proudly supported the 8th Annual Suicide and the Black Church Conference in Murfreesboro on August 8. From left: Youth Programs Director Kearee Jackson, Regional Director Darrell Bouldin, and Gwen Hamer, Director of Education and Development for the state Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. | |
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The August meeting of TSPN's Mid-Cumberland Region, held at the TSPN office on August 15, featured an art activity led by Eileen Wallach of Your Heart on Art, Inc., a longtime TSPN partner.
Here, guests at the meeting show off the keychains they made.
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Several founders of the Suicide Prevention in the African American Faith Communities (SPAAFC) received awards honoring their service to the group and to the cause. They include Rev. Dr. George T. Brooks Sr., Pastor of St. James MBC in Nashville (third from left); Rev. Cora Alston, Pastor of Faith Church (third from right); Rev. Dr. Margreat Smithson, Pastor of Greater Faith Ministries (second from right); Reverend Troy Merritt, former Presiding Elder of the South Nashville District (far right). They were presented with these awards by TSPN Executive Director Anna Sever (far left) and Gwen Hamer (second from right).
Rev. Brooks received special honors for assuming the facilitator’s role of SPAAFCC after the passing of Watson Grove MBC Pastor Curtis Goodwin Sr., opening St. James MBC as a venue for the conference for several consecutive years, and making active contributions to several crisis interventions.
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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.
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The Southeast Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Summit is scheduled for September 13-14 in the Tennessee Room at UT Chattanooga. The event will feature speakers, vendors, and breakout sessions on hot-button topics in suicide prevention and mental wellness. Full details and registration are available at bit.ly/3y2iKJv. For questions or comments, contact Bryan Barks at bbarks@tspn.org. | |
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TSPN's Northeast Region will host its Resilient Minds Summit on September 17 from 10 AM-2 PM EST at Summit Leadership, located at 3515 Bristol Highway in Johnson City. The event will feature a no-cost training session using the "Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention protocol. The event will also include a resource fair with over 25 vendors represented.
For attendee, vendor, and sponsor registration, visit https://rb.gy/eq5ikc. Additional questions or inquiries may be directed to Cori Johnson at cjohnson@tspn.org.
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Join TSPN's Greater Memphis region for its annual conference on September 18 at Hope Church in Cordova. Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, is among the guest speakers. Full details are available via Eventbrite.
Our thanks to breakfast sponsor Crestwyn Behavioral Health and the many vendors signed up to support this event.
| Join us on September 25 in Clarksville for a free suicide prevention training session. This session uses the safeTALK curriculum to train participant how to connect people in crisis with resources in their community. Further details at www.eventbrite.com/e/safetalk-suicide-prevention-training-tickets-991395760407 | |
TSPN is pleased to support TAADAS, Samaritan Recovery Community, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in its inaugural Hands Across the Bridge, planned for 2-3 PM on September 26 at the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville. Guests will form a human chain to symbolize community support and connection for people in recovery.
Free parking is available at Samaritan Recovery Community at 410 South 5th Street, using the 5th Street entrance. Guests with physical limitations are encouraged to park near the bridge. Questions about this event may be directed to TAADAS Executive Director Mary Linden Salter at marylinden@taadas.org.
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TSPN returns to Storytellers Hideaway Farm in Bon Aqua for its annual L;ve, Love, Run 5K Trail Run on September 28. This event features live music, food... and free registration for students and staff at Hickman County Schools using the code "freestaffstudentsLLR24". Registration is available on Eventbrite at
https://tinyurl.com/LLR2024.
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TAADAS is among the sponsors of the upcoming Mobilize Recovery event scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, October 5, in Oak Ridge.
This free event supports substance abuse recovery advocates across the state. It will include a special musical performance by American Idol Winner Noah Thompson. For details, email mholder@fumcor.org or carolinebeidler@gmail.com.
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TSPN offers online resources for insurance fairness
Getting timely access to mental health care is a critical component of suicide prevention. Sometimes, health plans do not treat behavioral health care the same way they do care and treatment for physical health, leading to fewer fewer therapy visits, limitations on medication and more restrictions for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorder.
This type of discrimination is prohibited under state and federal "parity" laws.
What would you do if your health plan was limiting behavioral health care in violation of the law? And what would you do to fix it?
Learn more at TSPN's Mental Health Parity Awareness webpage
Here, you will find training videos and tips on:
- Recognizing potential law violations in prior authorizations/denials;
- Getting your health plan to change a denial or reduction in care;
- Filing a complaint against your health plan;
- Getting help from the state Department of Commerce & Insurance.
For more information or a one-hour training, please contact Alisa LaPolt at alisa@taadas.org. And share this resource with your networks!
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UPCOMING REGIONAL MEETINGS | |
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Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network | tspn.org | |
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