February 2022 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Hi everybody! Thank you so much to everyone who attended our February Advisory Council meeting. There are many exciting things on the horizon for TSPN, and we always love the chance to share those new opportunities with you all. While we celebrate the growth TSPN has experienced over the years, we know that growth also comes with growing pains, so we cannot express how grateful we are to all of you for sticking with us through the process as we have evolved and expanded to better serve our mission of saving lives in Tennessee.

-Misty

In this issue

Trainer Summit date, location & registration link

New hire announcement

Faith-Based Task Force announcement

and more!

Our staff, regional volunteers, and even some furry friends have been getting out into their communities (and sometimes braving the cold!) to raise suicide prevention awareness across the state this winter.

Thank you all for your hard work!

Ronneisha Haten

Chesnee Lawson

In January we welcomed two interns into the TSPN family. Ronneisha Haten and Chesnee Lawson will be working with TSPN staff on several important projects this spring.

Ronneisha is serving as a statewide intern and is stationed in Nashville. Ronneisha hails from Memphis and is working toward a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Austin Peay State University. Ronneisha chose TSPN for her internship because she is dedicated to mental health & suicide prevention and wanted a hands-on learning environment.

Chesnee is serving as an intern in the Northeast Region and is stationed in Johnson City. Chesnee hails from Elizabethton and is working toward a Master of Public Health degree at East Tennessee State University. Through her graduate studies, Chesnee has become passionate about mental health and recently worked on a project involving maternal mental health and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

Welcome, Ronneisha and Chesnee!

TSPN is excited to welcome new staff member Kearee Jackson to the team. Kearee serves as TSPN's Good Behavior Game Director.

Kearee is a native of Byhalia, Mississippi, and moved to Nashville after serving as a Creative Writing Instructor. After moving, Kearee began working with at-risk youth as a Coordinator, Social Worker, Program Auditor and most recently a Behavior Coach. Throughout his professional career, Kearee has focused on serving underprivileged youth and their families. His goal is to help every child know they can succeed, despite any obstacles they may encounter.

Kearee brings experience working with youth Pre-K through 12th grade. He also works with various non-profit organizations that serve youth and provide resources that aid in their academic success. Kearee is excited to bring his experience to TSPN and continue to bring awareness to the importance of mental health in the lives of children in Tennessee. He looks forward to working with the team and utilizing the Good Behavior Game as an early intervention practice throughout the state.

Welcome, Kearee!

Last year, TSPN had the opportunity to help out with three mental health & suicide prevention art contests, held through Project AWARE in Lake, Cocke, and Fayette County Schools.

We are thrilled to share the final products with the winning designs-- on both stickers and magnets!

We're very excited to begin distributing these to young people throughout the state.

Your Heart on Art is gearing up for their 2022 traveling art project, now in its 9th year. The theme of this year's project focuses on one's individual journey, becoming broken, and rebuilding once again.

Click here to learn about opportunities related to the project, upcoming workshops, and more!

Thank you to our Advisory Council for voting to approve the creation of a Faith-Based Suicide Prevention Task Force through TSPN, in partnership with the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives at the TN Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. If you or your organization would like to be considered to be a part of this task force, please email mleitsch@tspn.org.

TSPN's 2022 Trainer Summit to be held April 4 & 5 at beautiful Montgomery Bell State Park

This no-cost event is intended as a support and appreciation event for QPR, ASIST, and safeTALK trainers. April 4 will be dedicated to QPR; April 5 will be dedicated to safeTALK & ASIST. If you are a trainer in multiple curricula, you are invited to attend both days.

There are limited registrations available, so register today! Email tspn@tspn.org with questions.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER