TSPN November 2020 Newsletter |
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- TSPN Executive Director announcement
- TSPN office move
- Speak Up social media day- rescheduled!
- October events recap
- Upcoming events
- In memoriam: Jack Stewart
- In the Know: news & resources
- Donor and sponsor recognition
- Tile of the Month
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Misty Leitsch has been chosen as TSPN's statewide Executive Director. Misty will supervise several staff members including regional directors across 9 statewide regions, oversee several suicide prevention task forces, regularly communicate and collaborate with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, manage TSPN's Advisory Council and large volunteer base, and serve as a speaker and thought leader who advocates for suicide prevention. |
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Misty has been serving as TSPN's Interim Director since fall 2019 and spent time prior to then as TSPN's Deputy Director.
She received bachelor's degrees in both social work and business administration from Belmont University in Nashville. Her experience in the area of mental health includes working as an Erasing the Stigma coordinator for Mental Health America of the Midsouth, community liaison for Mental Health Cooperative, program director at New Transitions, and Zero Suicide Initiative director for TSPN.
Congratulations, Misty!
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We are moving!t
The TAADAS/TSPN offices are moving this month, but not very far-- we will still be located at 1321 Murfreesboro Pike, #155. Our new office will be located just down the hall from our old office in the Airport Executive Plaza in Nashville. Wear a mask and stop by to see us!
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Speak Up social media day rescheduled to November 21
We are so grateful to all those who purchased a Speak Up, Save Lives t-shirt this fall. Since we experienced some t-shirt shipping delays due to COVID-19, we decided to push our celebration day on social media so that everyone who ordered a shirt can participate!
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On November 21
Post a picture of yourself wearing the shirt, use the hashtag #tspnvisionofhope, tag TSPN, and challenge five friends to do the same!
We also celebrate Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Nov. 21. Please join us in making this a special day of awareness.
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The Southeast Region helped organize "Happier Halloween," a Pop Up for Hope event at two Lupi’s Pizza Pies locations in the Chattanooga area. Southeast Regional Director Rachel Gearinger helps plan pop-up events that feature several area mental health organizations. The Halloween event included TSPN, NAMI Chattanooga, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, CIT Connect, Parkridge Valley, Spero Health, Centerstone, Suspire, Hamilton County Coalition, Mental Health Cooperative, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Village Behavioral Health.
These events began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the need to share mental health resources and reach people in person in a safe and meaningful way. At this pop-up, organizers shared positive vibes, waved handmade signs with messages of hope, and handed out resource bags full of goodies.
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TSPN's First Responders Task Force held its first webinar, "No One Fights Alone," on October 30 for more than 150 participants.
Scotty Bush, Fire Chief from the Hendersonville Fire Department, shares the introduction to the webinar:
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"There have been a couple of white papers released that show the severity of what is going to be discussed in today’s webinar. Public Safety employees (P.D., F.D., Dispatch, EMS) are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Statistics from 2017 show: 103 firefighters and 140 police officers died by suicide compared to 93 firefighters and 129 police officers were Line of Duty Deaths. All these organizations are built off mental toughness, courage and integrity yet we are failing in delivering the messages to our staff that it is perfectly normal to have reactions to horrific incidents. As leaders of our organizations we must protect our most valuable assets, and these assets are our people. Each of our organizations emphasize being tough and brave, all the while we are allowing mental health issues to become stigmatized. As leaders it is our responsibility to light the way by assuring our team members that there is no judgement of individuals who seek assistance. Leaders and instructors train and educate members of our organizations to run towards danger every day in order to save lives of others. Now is the time for all leaders of all organizations to run towards these exact same members and educate them that normal reactions to horrific calls are perfectly normal and okay. The age-old idea of suppressing these calls is no longer acceptable."
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TSPN's Memphis/Shelby County Regional Director Justin Johnson delivered the guest speaker address at UT Martin's online Veterans Day 2020 observation. We thank you for your service and continued advocacy, Justin!
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Throughout November
and free haircut event benefiting TSPN!
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November 16 @ 10 a.m. CST
Northwest Regional Meeting
November 17 @ 11:30 a.m. CST
Memphis/Shelby County Regional Meeting
November 20
Survivors of Suicide Loss Day Online Observance
Parkwest Medical Center, Peninsula, and TSPN are hosting the 2020 Survivors of Suicide Loss Day online on November 20. Please join for survivor stories through video, PowerPoint, news articles, and more.
November 21
AFSP SOSL Day Observance
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November 30
SE Region Pop Up for Hope event & food drive
Friends in the Southeast Region can participate in the next Pop Up for Hope event for mental health on Nov. 30. This pop up will be held in conjunction with an event hosted through Tennessee United and a non-perishable food drive put on by the Hamilton County Coalition. If you are interested in donating food or volunteering at the event, email rgearinger@tspn.org.
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TSPN is deeply saddened to announce the loss of our Advisory Council member, advocate, and friend Jack Stewart. Jack is lovingly remembered by his wife, Kitty, and many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as TSPN staff and volunteers across Tennessee.
TSPN staff and volunteers recognize the dedication, commitment, and devotion Jack had to making Tennessee a better place for anyone affected by suicide and mental illness. If you have pictures of Jack at a TSPN event, we would love to see and share them; please send them to tspn@tspn.org.
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In the Know: News and Resources
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Want to volunteer? Sign up for a Training? Click the buttons below to get involved! |
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Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network | tspn.org
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