Projects

Initiatives

TSPN is always looking forward to new ways to spread suicide prevention awareness in Tennessee. Through advocacy events, literature, legislative consultation, task forces, projects & presentations, and many other collaborations, we aim to spread the available resources to as many people as possible. We keep a record of those initiative and outreach efforts here.

Zero Suicide Initiative

Tennessee’s Zero Suicide Initiative Task Force is working to implement the concept of “zero suicides” within behavioral health and substance abuse treatment settings across Tennessee.

Members of the Task Force, in concert with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) are working to help these agencies eliminate suicides and suicide attempts within their client base through an aggressive yet achievable action plan incorporating best-practice prevention and intervention strategies.

TSPN is currently seeking new organizations to participate in the Zero Suicide initiative. If your organization is interested, please email tspn@tspn.org.

Gun Safety Project

The Gun Safety Task Force was created to expand the Gun Safety Project and think about ways to better involve and outreach to the gun-owner community, as we know that nearly two-thirds of all suicide deaths involve firearms. TSPN staff and volunteers still provide gun safety literature related to suicide prevention across the state, such as gun locks with crisis line numbers and firearm purchasing checklists.

If you are interested in participating in the Gun Safety Project, or receiving gun locks at no charge from TSPN, email tspn@tspn.org.

Emergency Department Initiative

TSPN began providing free online suicide prevention training to Emergency Departments all across the state. TSPN staff and volunteers began providing brochures to Emergency Departments, as well, including brochures covering how to help a suicidal patient, how to help the family of a suicidal patient, and how to help Emergency Department staff in suicide prevention awareness and efforts.

Active Task Forces

Farmer's Suicide Prevention

This task force, an appointed task force created and approved by the TSPN Advisory Council on April 5, 2018, will hereto partner with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. With this partnership, the Task Force will work to proactively address the issue of suicide in Tennessee. The task force will meet to create and carry out action items to best help the at-risk population of Farmers. By employing the expertise of those listed to below, to be invited to this initial task force, it is the hope that this effort will expand to other entities throughout the state, creating atmospheres of safety and suicide awareness for Tennessee’s Farmers.

Veteran's Suicide Prevention

This task force, an appointed task force created and approved by the TSPN Advisory Council appointed by the Governor on June 8, 2017 and partnership with Tennessee Department of Veteran Services, will hereto serve to unite veteran serving organizations throughout Tennessee towards the goal of suicide prevention. The task force will meet to create and carry out action items to best help the at-risk population of veteran. Veteran serving organizations and other agencies serving Veteran population pose a unique problem for suicide prevention/intervention/postvention efforts. By employing the expertise of the appointed task members, it is the hope that this effort will expand throughout the state, creating cohesive safe spaces throughout Tennessee.

First Responders

The mission of the First Responders Task Force is to address First Responder suicide in our state, with the goal of reducing suicides, through prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts. This group will serve to unite First Responder organizations throughout Tennessee towards the goal of suicide prevention. The First Responders Task Force will meet to create and carry out action items to support the first responder population at-risk of suicide.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

In 1999, Senator Harry Reid, who lost his father to suicide, introduced a resolution to the United States Senate which led to the creation of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Also known as Survivor Day, the day was designated by the United States Congress as a day on which those affected by suicide can join together for healing and support. It was determined that Survivor Day would always fall on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving, as the holidays are often a difficult time for suicide loss survivors.

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