April 2022 Call to Action

The monthly newsletter of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Hey everybody! I want to start off with a huge THANK YOU to every attendee, panelist, and guest speaker that participated in our very first Trainer Summit earlier this month. Because of you, our event was a success, and we were able to see new faces & make new connections as well as reconnect with old friends of TSPN. We could not be more pleased with the turnout, and we can't wait for our next summit to be even bigger. We also have several more events this month at which TSPN staff are speaking or attending, so if you see us out on the road, feel free to stop by and say hello!

-Misty

In this issue

Trainer Summit recap

Advisory Council meeting date announcement

First Responder conference announcement

and more!

We are SO grateful to everyone who was able to attend our inaugural Trainer Summit earlier this month at Montgomery Bell State Park! Our staff had an incredible time, and we hope each attendee did, as well. A huge THANK YOU to all our participants, presenters, and panelists! We are already looking forward to planning our next Trainer Summit, so stay tuned.

We would also like to congratulate the winners of our first ever Prism Awards; these awards recognized outstanding QPR, safeTALK, and ASIST trainers across the state for their commitment and collaboration. Congratulations and sincerest thanks to all our 2022 winners!

Most QPR participants trained

Heatherly Sifford

Most QPR trainings held

Katie Coleman

TSPN's longest standing QPR instructor

Beth Haren

Most ASIST participants trained

Jeff Alexander

Most ASISTs held

Dana Townsend

safeTALK Trainer Appreciation Award

Michelle West

Our staff has been traveling to several conferences across the state and beyond lately-- as both attendees and presenters! We love collaborating and networking with so many organizations doing great work in the suicide prevention & mental health arena.

Advisory Council member Anne Young & East Regional Director Emily Hager at a women's mental health discussion panel at Pellissippi State Community College

South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian at the BOING youth mental health conference at Franklin County High School in Winchester

Northwest Regional Director Emily Oswald at the Weakley County Prevention Coalition's "Prevention Recharged" conference in Memphis

Some of our staff at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing 2022 national conference in Washington, D.C.

Our next Advisory Council meeting will be held June 1 & 2.

Time & location details are forthcoming, so stay tuned!

Your Heart On Art's traveling art project will soon be underway!

Now in its 9th year, TSPN has collaborated with YHOA to create a traveling art project that helps survivors of suicide loss and lived experience, families, friends and those touched by suicide through the language of art.

To find out more info on the project or to sign up for a free Your Heart On Art workshop this summer, click here.

TSPN's First Responder Suicide Prevention Task Force is thrilled to announce an upcoming conference entitled "Answering the Call" on October 24 & 25.

First responders across the state are invited to attend. Registration will be open soon for this event, so mark your calendars! If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring this event, email Task Force Co-Chair Mary Anne Christian at mchristian@tspn.org.