June 2025 Call to Action

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

June 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 is officially starting this year’s proclamation collection campaign and has resources available to help members and volunteers secure statements of support from governments, universities, and businesses.

Our goal is to collect proclamations from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties to promote advocacy and awareness about suicide prevention.

Please reach out to your Regional Director to find out how you can support our efforts. Also, stay tuned for our special edition proclamation call to action, featuring this year’s document and recommendations for how to secure proclamations.

With gratitude,

Anna C. Sever

TSPN debuts new PSA

TSPN has created a 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) now airing on radio stations statewide.

TSPN created the script and partnered with voice professional Nancy Lynne Walters of Your Professional Voice to produce the PSA, which promotes TSPN as a resource for people seeking ways to help those in a crisis. The PSA then directs listeners to our website for additional information. The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB) distributed the PSA to its member stations across the state.

The goal of the PSA is to create awareness around TSPN and what we do. “We want every person in Tennessee to know that support is never far away,” TSPN Executive Director Anna Sever said in a recent TSPN news release. “This PSA is more than just an announcement—it's a message that resources are available in communities statewide.”

We appreciate Ms. Walters and TAB for their role in helping us bring this project from an idea to reality. The PSA is available on the TSPN website.

Stay tuned for details!

TSPN Advisory Council report

TSPN staff and Advisory Council members spent two days in a strategic retreat at Falls Creek Falls State Park on May 12-14. Together we worked on shaping the organization’s future growth and expanding its impact across Tennessee. TSPN thanks everyone for all your work! (Outreach Committee photo at bottom right courtesy of Dr. Stephanie Evans.)

TSPN's project-specific task forces reported out at this meeting. The Faith-Based Task Force announced 23 churches across West Tennessee will soon be certified as S.A.F.E. Congregations. The Elevated Risk Task Force has established partnerships with the Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau as part of efforts to broaden its focus. The First Responder Task Force continues to plan its fourth annual conference, scheduled for this fall.
Sources of Strength is active in thirteen schools and youth-serving organizations across the state, with four certified trainers on staff. These trainers presented an update at the 2025 Coordinated School Health Conference held in Nashville earlier this year.
Communications Director Alisa LaPolt previewed TSPN's new radio PSA (see the promo above) and encouraged Regional Directors to promote it to local stations. Additionally, she requested guidance and assistance on maximizing public engagement with this year's proclamation project.
TAADAS Executive Director Mary Linden Salter discussed both agencies' adoption of ToucanTech, a platform for managing events and volunteers, as well as the onboarding process for TSPN staff and Council members.
TSPN Executive Director Anna Sever updated everyone on the development of updated regional resource guides, including a discussion of suppressed suicide death figures and a request for a volunteer workgroup to recommend future content updates.

ESSENCE Rapid Response Plan and Guidelines

TSPN and the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) have published a Rapid Response Plan and Guidelines to help people create ESSENCE Alert responses for their communities.

TDH uses the ESSENCE system to monitor emergency department visits for suicide-related behavior and warn counties with increased levels of suicidal behavior. TSPN issues weekly age-specific ESSENCE Alerts on TDH’s behalf. Subscribers to these alerts can enact response plans to provide their communities with targeted suicide prevention and crisis intervention outreach, with the goal of preventing suicide attempts and deaths.

The Rapid Response Plan and Guidelines document explains the ESSENCE Alert concept, summarizes alert figures from TDH, and offers guidance on how to create general-population or age-specific ESSENCE Alert responses within your community. The report is available on the TSPN website.

Tennessee's ESSENCE system—along with TSPN's role in alerting communities to spikes in suicides and suicidal behavior locally—is featured as a case study by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) called, "Harnessing Near Real-Time Data for Effective Suicide Prevention Efforts." The case study is available via the SPRC website.

Report on trends in firearm suicide deaths

A recent report from the Tennessee Violent Death Reporting System (TVDRS) provides details about suicide firearm deaths, the leading suicide method in Tennessee and nationally.

Molly Golladay, an epidemiologist with the Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner presented the findings during the June 13 meeting of the TVDRS Advisory Committee. Her report reviewed all firearm injury deaths recorded in the TVDRS between 2020 and 2022.

Relevant points from the study:

Suicides accounted for 53% of all firearm deaths recorded during this period. Homicides made up 42% of the total. Firearms were implicated in 66% of all suicide deaths in Tennessee during the study period.
Suicide accounted for 76% of all firearm deaths among white people in Tennessee.
Firearm suicide is more likely to occur among adults over the age of 45.
More than 50% of firearm deaths were due to suicide (as opposed to homicide or accidents) in 87 out of 95 Tennessee counties.
81% of all suicide firearm deaths involved handguns, as opposed to rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, etc.
Certain circumstances are more associated with firearm suicide death than other lethal means. Deaths by firearm suicide are more likely to occur at the decadent's home than elsewhere. People who served in the US military or with physical health problems are about three times more likely to use firearms than other methods.

In related news, Tennessee's state VDRS was recently ranked 7th in the nation in terms of overall quality, based on timeliness and completeness of data entry.

TSPN staff trained in MHFA

Four of our Regional Directors participated in the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor Training that concluded June 12. The Tennessee Department of Health organized this training session, hosting it at the Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Department in Nashville.

MHFA is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives people the skills they need to provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. You can learn more about MHFA at the program website (mentalhealthfirstaid.org).

Pictured left to right in the photo above are Northeast Regional Director Taylor Murmann, Mid-Cumberland Regional Director Darrell Bouldin, Greater Nashville Regional Director Hannah Quinn, and Southeast Regional Director Bryan Barks. Along with their training certificates, each participant received a plush version of ALGEE, the MHFA program mascot (named after the acronym used to remember the steps of the MHFA protocol).

To have one of our MHFA-trained staff lead a session for your agency or community group, send an inquiry email to tspn@tspn.org for routing to an MHFA-trained staff member or volunteer in your area.

East Region

East Regional Director Taylor Murmann (at far left on the back row) led her first ASIST training session concluding June 12 at Lincoln Memorial University's Knoxville campus for 26 people. Advisory Council members Scott Payne (seventh from right on back row) and Anne Young (far right on back row) served as co-trainers.

Find out more the ASIST module on our website and contact us at tspn@tspn.org to arrange a training session for your agency or group.

Greater Memphis Region

The region thanks Compass Intervention Center for sponsoring lunch at its May 15 regional meeting. Business Development Representative Paige Allen (center) and Director of Business Development Tonya Ginn (right) received a certificate of appreciation from Regional Director Justin Johnson.

Compass Intervention Center provides behavioral healthcare to children and teens aged 10 to 17 struggling with a general psychiatric, substance abuse or dual diagnosis disorders. Visit their website to find out more about the services they offer.

Greater Nashville Region

Youth Program Director Kearee Jackson (far left on second row), recently certified as an ASIST instructor, led his first training session at the Nashville Fire Academy's Lilliard Campus for 16 staff members and instructors. South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian (second from left on first row) co-trained on this event.

Northwest Region

TSPN Northeast Regional Director Cori Johnson (at far right) led a QPR session on June 6 in Bristol for YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia’s Family Network Program.

(Photo courtesy of Laura Bobo)

Introducing our Advisory Council members

TSPN recently published a set of introductory profiles of current Advisory Council members, now being posted on our social media platforms. We invite you to review the Advisory Council biographies on our website. 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 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.

TSPN's Greater Memphis Region has announced its annual suicide prevention conference. The event is set for Friday, September 19, within the South Hall at Hope Church, located at 8500 Walnut Grove Road in Cordova.

The regional network will announce further details as they are available. In the meantime, you may direct all event inquiries to Regional Director Justin Johnson at jjohnson@tspn.org or 629-246-9400.

Live! Love! Run! 5K Trail Run and 1 Mile Walk

This year's Live! Love! Run! 5K Trail Run and 1 Mile Walk is planned for 8 AM-5 PM on Saturday, September 27, at Hideaway Farm in Lyles. This year marks the fifth year of the run and serves as the kick-off event for the inaugural Recovery Fest Hickman. Details and registration are available via Eventbrite.

This event is co-sponsored by TSPN, Hope in Recovery, Hickman County Coordinated School Health, and the Booker D. Foundation.

The theme of this year's Southwest regional conference is "The Risk is Real: There Is Hope for Everyone". The event is planned for October 23-24 at Freed Hardeman University in Henderson. The region will announce an agenda and speakers soon. Contact Regional Director Emily Lunn at elunn@tspn.org or 731-358-0640 about sponsorship opportunities and for other questions.

Interested in connecting Tennesseans to hope, help, and healing? TSPN is looking for volunteers available to support its events, distributed its materials, help plan its projects, raise funds to support our work, and become active gatekeepers capable of helping people in crisis.

Find out how you can get involved with TSPN by filling out an application form at tspn.org/volunteer or reaching out to us at tspn@tspn.org. We look forward to having you as partners in our work to prevent suicide and save lives in Tennessee.

UPCOMING REGIONAL MEETINGS

June 26 and July 24

Northeast Regional Meeting

Email cjohnson@tspn.org for details

June 26 and July 24

Upper Cumberland Regional Meeting

Email manderson@tspn.org for details

July 3 and August 7

Southeast Regional Meeting

Email bbarks@tspn.org for details

July 10 and August 14

South Central Regional Meeting