News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
UCHRA joining forces with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to combat the the high suicide rates in the Upper Cumberland.
The new initiative shared with the UCHRA Executive Board Wednesday. Information and Assistance Specialist Jessica Roberson said UCHRA will showcase the new number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline on all its buses moving forward.
“They have changed their number from this big long 1-800 number that people have to remember to 988, so similar to 911,” Roberson said. “They can text it, they can call it, so it’s been a great asset. So what we’re trying to do is get the word out there.”
Roberson said they also have a sticker with the information that will be placed on current buses to start spreading the word as quickly as possible. She said they are raising funds for the stickers by selling a t-shirt with the network’s number and information on it.
“Between myself and UC Recovery we have come up with these shirts, so if you would like to purchase one they’re fifteen dollars,” Roberson said. “Most of that money’s going to go back to TSPN so that we can make more of these stickers to get on more vehicles, work with other companies.”
Suicide Prevention Network Upper Cumberland Regional Director Michael Anderson said the network is still relatively unheard of despite being in existence for twenty-four years.
“I had never heard that the Upper Cumberland had the highest suicide rate in Tennessee for about forty years,” Anderson said. “That’s still something that’s not really published and that’s why we run around doing the things that we do.”
Anderson said Farley and UCHRA have been extremely cooperative and enthusiastic about working together to advocate for suicide prevention.
Farley said they will be adding the number to all of their public transportation vehicles as well as the fleet vehicle kept at the Development District building.
