Suicide prevention conference spotlighting ways to help high-risk groups

HENDERSON, Tenn. — An annual conference is being held on one of our college campuses here in West Tennessee.

The Southwest Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is holding their 4th annual conference on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University. It is two full days of knowledge and learning.

“This year we decided to host a conference where we focus on high risk populations of those who are at risk of suicide,” said Emily Lunn, Southwest Regional Director, TSPN. “We know that anyone is at risk of suicide, but there are those populations who are at a higher risk versus others. So we wanted to highlight who are those populations in our region that we see at a higher risk, and how can we help them.”

This conference is for many different people in varying roles.

“We’ve got students here today, we’ve got therapists, we’ve got social workers that are attending, we’ve got just community members that are attending, mobile crisis staff. So we’ve got a really good mix of people,” said Lynn Julian, Chair, TSPN.

They also have some breakout groups that dive into more specific discussions.

“Those are going to be some of those direct high risk populations that the attendees have the option of ‘do I want to hear about this specific population or this specific population.’ So those breakouts will be our farmers, first responders, the LGBTQIA+ group, and then veterans,” Lunn said.

There are quite a few vendors in attendance as well that provide a multitude of options for those looking for assistance. Lunn told us what they hope to get out of this conference.

“A lot of times I think people don’t realize they have a voice that matters,” Lunn said. “If someone is struggling with suicidal behaviors, ideations, feeling alone, the most that we can do is say, ‘no, you are not alone.’ That is what our hope is. With suicide being the twelfth-leading cause of death in our nation and our state, the most we can do is say ‘no, you do matter.'”

For the past three years they have held this conference at Freed-Hardeman.

We were also told that anyone can show up Friday to attend the conference. It beings at 8:30 a.m., and ends at 12:30 p.m.

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