Committees
In an effort to draw upon the expertise of the various Council members in areas of key interest, TSPN has established standing committees. Each committee has a chair on the Advisory Council Executive Committee. Each committee chair will serve as the leader of that committee to which they will provide committee reports and recommendations to the Council. Advisory Council subcommittees’ recommendations will support the continued advancement and development of TSPN towards more effectively accomplishing its mission.
Any TSPN volunteer can be a part of our committees, serving alongside our Advisory Council and Emeritus Group members. For more information about joining a committee, email the corresponding staff liaison at the email address below.
Advocacy
The Advocacy Committee assists TSPN in making any changes to its resolutions and working with legislators on local, state, and national levels to develop and implement legislation related to suicide prevention and related mental health issues.
Allison White, Committee Chair
Justin Johnson, Staff Lead, jjohnson@tspn.org
Members
Dr. John B. Averitt
Joseph Chatman III
Megan Gaylord
Lynn Julian
Matthew Magráns-Tillery
Kristi Paling
Tyler Sanders
Christy Sentell
Dr. Drew Turner
Mike Anderson (staff)
Bryan Barks (staff)
Darrell Bouldin (staff)
Vladimir Enlow (staff)
Anna Sever (staff)
Outreach
The Outreach Committee assists in the planning of any outreach activities related to the Network throughout the year and updates TSPN regarding activities across the state relevant to suicide prevention.
Dr. Audrey Elion, Committee Chair
Emily Jernigan, Staff Lead, ejernigan@tspn.org
Members
Amy Bechtol
Dr. Jolene Cook
Dr. Stephanie Evans
Stacie Fernandez
Nora Fielding
Brenda Harper
Jim Lewis
Sarah Mays
Brandy Rice
Heatherly Sifford
Anne Stamps
Mary Anne Christian (staff)
Shauna Greer (staff)
Kearee Jackson (staff)
Emily Lunn (staff)
Hannah Quinn (staff)
Anna Sever (staff)
Strategies, Outcomes, and Evaluation (SOE)
The Strategies, Outcomes, and Evaluation Committee assists TSPN in overseeing any changes relevant to the Network’s strategies, implementation of such strategies, brochures, and other areas of interest.
Anne Young, Committee Chair
Christina Allen, Staff Lead, callen@tspn.org
Members
Sean Jones
Charmaine Kromer
Sheldon Walker
Scott Payne
Becky Stoll
Amber Whitsett
Cori Johnson (staff)
Lisa Kling (staff)
Taylor Murmann (staff)
Anna Sever (staff)
Elevated Risk Task Force
The Elevated Risk Task Force, created and approved by the TSPN Advisory Council in February 2024, addresses suicide awareness, education, and prevention within populations that are traditionally at higher risk of suicide than the general population.
Through partnering with organizations, mental health providers, and other community partners, the Task Force will identify and address factors contributing to elevated suicide risk while promoting evidence-based practices that respect the diverse identities and experiences of the communities we serve.
Faith-Based Task Force
Created and approved by the Advisory Council on February 7, 2024, this group promotes and supports the work of the Faith-Based Initiatives Office within the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It engages leaders of faith-based assemblies in Tennessee to educate their members about suicide risk and community crisis interventions.
The Task Force's primary task involves recruitment and rollout for the S.A.F.E. (Suicide Awareness is For Everyone) Congregation Initiative to recruit congregations to not only have members become trained in suicide prevention but also to integrate suicide prevention discussions and events routinely into their regular work.
Congregations that are certified as S.A.F.E. are taking strides to be suicide-safer, and may be a place of support for those suffering from suicidal ideation, recovering from a suicide attempt, or grieving suicide loss.
First Responders Task Force
The mission of the First Responders Task Force is to reduce suicide deaths among law enforcement, emergency medical service members, firefighters, prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts.
This group unites first responder organizations throughout Tennessee to carry out action items to support the first responder population.
Emeritus Group
TSPN Advisory Council established the Emeritus Group in 2014 to recognize TSPN Advisory Council members who had rotated off the group but still wanted to remain actively involved with TSPN projects and activities, and to honor Council members who had provided outstanding service to TSPN and to suicide prevention efforts within our state.
The title of “Emeritus” is given to those who have shown dedication and distinguished service to TSPN over two years and/or one gubernatorial appointment to the Advisory Council. The title of “Emeritus” may be given upon rotation off the Advisory Council. It is not automatic, but rather it must be recommended by and approved through application procedures. Please see the TSPN Emeritus Application above to nominate a former Advisory Council member to the Group.
In addition to Dr. and Mrs. Tullis, the Emeritus Group honors the following former Advisory Council members. Current active members continue to represent TSPN at functions and other events across the state. Retired or former members have stepped away from active involvement in the Emeritus Group due to professional or personal obligations, but TSPN would like to acknowledge their past contributions.
Emeritus Group Members
Karyl Chastain Beal (Chair), Community Advocate
Sabrina Anderson, Boys and Girls Club of Jackson
Dr. Pam Arnell, 22ZERO
Stephanie Barger, Monroe Harding
Kathy Benedetto, Community Advocate
Renee Brown, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. (Memphis) VA Medical Center
Carol Kelly-Burroughs, Henderson County Schools
Teresa Kimbro Culbreath, Community Advocate
Adam Graham, TBD Solutions Inc.
Ben Harrington, Mental Health Association of East Tennessee
Jennifer Harris, St. Thomas Health Services
Kim Rush King, NAMI Tennessee
Inactive Emeritus Group Members
Jodi Bartlett, retired
Sam D. Bernard, Bernard & Associates PC
Granger Brown, Community Advocate
Clark Flatt, the Jason Foundation, Inc.
Anne Henning-Rowan, retired
Misty Leitsch, One More Day
Harold Leonard, private practice
Claudia Mays, private practice
Stephanie Robb, Behavioral Health Initiatives
Anna Shugart, Community Advocate
Judith Johnson, Community Advocate
Eileen Wallach, Your Heart on Art, Inc.
Intra-State Departmental Group
The Intra-State Departmental Group is an assembly of appointed representatives of the state departments, commissions, and councils that provide supplementary guidance to the Advisory Council on an ex officio basis.
The Intra-State Departmental Group meets virtually prior to regularly scheduled TSPN Advisory Council meetings but may also meet during these gatherings. Members of this group attend Advisory Council meetings but do not vote on proposals.
Current Members
Terrence (Terry) Love, MS, CPC (Chair), Injury Prevention Manager, Division of Family Health and Wellness, Tennessee Department of Health,
Melissa Alardo, BA, Program Director, Suicide Prevention, Division of Family Health and Wellness, Tennessee Department of Health, melissa.alardo@tn.gov
Cathy V. Blakely, Victim Services Coordinator, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, cathy.blakely@tn.gov
Bruce E. Davis, Ph.D., Executive Director of Human Resources, Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities,
Elizabeth Davis, Ed.S, Program Manager, TN AWARE, Tennessee Department of Education, elizabeth.j.davis@tn.gov
Melisa Fuhrmeister, Data & Fiscal Coordinator, Tennessee Department of Education, melisa.fuhrmeister@tn.gov
Shannon Geames, MA, Director of Learning and Development, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, shannon.geames@tn.gov
Gwen Hamer, MA, CPC, Director, Education and Development, Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services,
Shannon Jones, Aging Program Administrator, Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, shannon.jones@tn.gov
Tatum Johnson, RN, Assistant State Public Health Nursing Director, Tennessee Department of Health, tatum.h.johnson@tn.gov
Sherlean Lybolt, MA, LSPE, Behavioral Health Programs Coordinator, Tennessee Department of Correction, sherlean.lybolt@tn.gov
Melissa McGee, Children's Mental Health Advocacy Director, Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, melissa.mcgee@tn.gov
Carol Coley McDonald, Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, carol.mcdonald@tn.gov
Travis Murphy, Assistant Commissioner, Appeals and Accreditation, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, travis.murphy@tn.gov
Jacqueline Talley, Treatment Program Specialist, Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services,
jackie.talley@tn.gov
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The Lifeline is a free 24/7, confidential, short-term crisis counseling line for those experiencing distress. It is a myth that 988 is only for suicidal individuals; it is available to everyone. Call, text, or chat 988 if you are overwhelmed, stressed, and need to talk with a trained counselor.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.