Mission/Goal

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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.

Meeting Minutes

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Blue Star Families has developed a series of PSAs for active-duty military personnel and their families. View the entire series on BSF’s YouTube channel.

In recent years, veteran mental health issues have come to the forefront of the public consciousness, and with them the problem of veteran suicide. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is working with Veteran’s Administration across the state to address suicide prevention among veterans and other members of the military community.

This portion of our website offers the several resources for current and former members of the United States military and their loved ones. The most important being below. Use the menu to the right for additional resources. Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK, Veterans Press 1. For immediate crisis services, The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has founded a national suicide prevention hotline to ensure veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors.

To operate the Veterans Hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press “1” to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. Staff members are specially trained to take calls from military veterans and its staffed 24 hours a day, everyday. While all operators are trained to help veterans, some are also former military personnel. All callers will be connected to most appropriate resources.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also has an extensive amount of resources on the website for veterans. Please click here to access the page which includes a 24/7 Live Chat option as well as a resource locator, enrollment and benefits information, etc.

TSPN’s Veterans Suicide Prevention Task Force has also developed a toolkit of resources for loved ones, community members, and care providers in the lives of Veterans.

The Tennessee Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their families is participating with 35 other states who are taking part in working to develop and implement state-wide suicide prevention best practices for SMVF, using a public health approach. The Tennessee Governor’s Challenge is in stage four right now of the process and hopes to implement the priority areas that are listed below across the state at the end of 2021.

• Identify SMVF and Screen for Suicide Risk
• Promote Connectedness and Improve Care Transitions
• Increase Lethal Means Safety and Safety Planning

Online Screening Tools

Depression Screening
This screening mechanism is sponsored by PsyCom Depression Awareness Group, anon-profit organization.

Online Resources

Help for Active Duty Military
National Guard/Veteran Resources
Help for Military Families

Armed Forces and Military Jobs
Links on this page hosted by Job-Opportunities.com offer advice on how former military personnel, even those with disabilities, can find work in the civilian sector after their term of service ends.

Army Emergency Relief
(866) 878-6378
Army Emergency Relief offers financial counseling and assistance via grants and loans for emergency housing, food, medical assistance and other essentials. It is usually handled via the local or base Army Emergency Relief officer. It also offers scholarship programs.

Army Families Online
(800) 833-6622
Army Families Online staffs the Army Information Line from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST. They offer information and referral services for Army soldiers, civilians, retirees, veterans and families and address all issues and concerns. For mental health services, they refer to One-Source or for active-duty soldiers, they can connect them to their chaplain or someone in their chain of command.

Army Family Readiness Group
Family members can check their unit’s Web site for up-to-date information and information about other families in the unit.

Business and Professional Women/USA Business and Women’s Professional Foundation
(202) 293-1100
This group developed Women Joining Forces, a program designed to help women veterans re-enter the workforce.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
(800) 881-2462
The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance program offers financial counseling and assistance via grants and loans for emergency housing, food, medical assistance and other essentials.

Disability Information for Veterans
This page on the Disabled Travelers website provides a concise summary of VA and Social Security disability benefits and the application process.

Guide to Financial Assistance for Military Families
This section of the digital couponing and discount site RetailMeNot offers links and contact points for purchasing a home, paying for college, and financial assistance.

Marine Corps Community Services
Find support programs, including deployment, relocation and transition.

Military Family Network
Their mission is to support military families and increase their readiness and well-being by connecting them with their communities and the organizations that provide the best service and value.

Military OneSource
(800) 342-9647 (24-hour, toll-free number)
Military OneSource offers information and articles on various topics, such as home and personal safety, managing deployment and money management. The site also includes combat stress resources for military families.

MilSpouse.org
The Military Spouse Resource Center provides information and resources to spouses of military personnel related to education, training and employment within the U.S. They also have a section on relocation resources.

National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association educates military families about their rights and benefits. Their main programs are Spouse Scholarships (awarded to spouses to obtain professional certification or attend post-secondary or graduate school) and Operation Purple Camps (summer camps for military children).

Sesame Street for Military Families
Tools for helping children of military families with a variety of situations such as deployments, homecoming, relocation, injuries, and grief.

Tips for Your Next PCS Move
Tips from military families for preparing for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.

Veterans and Families
This site provides information and resources to help homecoming veterans and their families in their transition from military to civilian life, including links to online support groups.