January 2025 Call to Action

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

January issue

Executive Director's call to action
Monthly Recap: regional news and updates
Health insurance webinar
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) conference
Disaster-related mental health resources
Information about the C-SSRS screening tool

and more!

Call to Action

TSPN wishes all of you a Happy New Year and all the best for you in 2025! Over this last year, we have trained 10 organizations in the youth prevention program Sources of Strength (SOS) across rural Tennessee. To reach our goal of training at least 15 organizations by August 31st, 2025, we ask for your help with our recruitment efforts.

See below for more information about this opportunity, and thank you in advance for your help and support promoting our work.

With gratitude,

Anna

~~~

Sources of Strength

Sources of Strength is a research-informed, upstream prevention program involving peer leaders mentored by adult advisors to increase protective factors, such as coping skills.

For eligible organizations, we can provide more than $6,000 in training and TSPN staff support at no charge to help stand up each Sources of Strength program. Eligible organizations include schools, churches, and other agencies in rural counties with youth programs serving middle and high-school aged children. For our purposes, "rural counties" are defined as any county except Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, and Sullivan.

Please help us by offering a “warm” introduction to your contacts within your region.
Specifically, we are asking our partners across the state to send a virtual introduction to potential contact points to Youth Programs Director Kearee Jackson at kjackson@tspn.org, along with possible dates for the one-day training.

To learn more about this program, visit the profile on our website: tspn.org/sources-of-strength

Northeast Region

Cori Johnson, our Northeast Regional Director, snapped this photo of a TSPN billboard on West Market Street in Johnson City. It was one of several across the state sponsored by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. East Regional Director Taylor Murmann supported design coordination and installation of billboards promoting 988 and TSPN at high-traffic intersections in Greene, Rutherford, Washington, and Weakley counties.

This group photo celebrates the wrap-up of an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) session at East Tennessee State University on December 20. Southwest Regional Director Emily Lunn and South Central Regional Director Mary Anne Christian (center, with lanyard) traveled across the state to facilitate this session.

Scott Payne of Contact Careline is pictured on the far left. He chairs TSPN's East Region and serves as Vice Chair of its Advisory Council. He also traveled to serve as a third trainer, since almost 45 people were trained this day! Thank you to Northeast Regional Director, Cori Johnson, for all of her help coordinating this event.

Visit our website's training page (https://tspn.org/events-training) to learn how ASIST prepares professionals and caregivers to intervene in suicide crises. Then, contact your Regional Director to request a training session--scroll down to the calendar for contact information.

Greater Memphis Region

Roughly 120 people attended the 3rd Annual Greater Memphis TSPN and Spiritual Care Network Holiday Party on December 17 at Hope Church in Cordova. The event featured a live musical performance from Aisha Dubose and an uplifting message from Pastor Vincent Joplin.

At right, Brad Yacke (second from left) is honored as the winner of the event's "Ugly Sweater Party". Pictured from left to right are Ben Dickey, Greater Memphis Regional Chair/Past Advisory Council Chair Audrey Elion, and Mary Hamm.

TSPN thanks Summit BHC and Crestwyn for sponsoring lunch at this event.

January 23, 2025 1:00-2:30 PM Central

February 25, 2025 1:00 - 2:30 PM Central

TSPN has long recognized the value of timely and adequate access to behavioral health care in preventing suicide.

That's why TSPN has partnered with the Tennessee Parity Project and the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services (TAADAS) to help promote awareness and education about your rights to mental health and substance use treatment under state and federal laws.

We want everyone seeking behavioral health care to know their rights as consumers and how you may be able to overturn a health plan's treatment denials in many cases. Please learn more at these FREE webinars.

Early Bird pricing is available through February 12 at 11:59 PM EST.

Learn more and register

Rx and Illicit Drug Summit

Join TAADAS and TSPN on April 21-24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for insights, strategies, and connections that can transform the future of the opioid and addiction crisis.

Use the code TAADAS to save $100 off advance rates for total savings of $500!

Don’t miss out—register today:

https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/rx-summit/rates

Resources and Trainings

Post-hurricane mental health resources

TSPN is promoting mental health resources available in East Tennessee following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene back in September. Thank you to Regional Directors Cori Johnson of the Northeast Region and Taylor Murmann of the East Region for staying in touch with colleagues in their community who are working tirelessly to respond to people impacted by this disaster.

C-SSRS is a short questionnaire to estimate someone's suicide risk and options for support. Anyone can use it as a guide to help ask questions about suicide. However, administering the C-SSRS is not a substitute for a clinical mental health professional, and the tool itself has its limitations.

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.