Monica Middlebrooks is this year’s Regional Suicide Prevention Award winner for the Southeast Region of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN).
Sheriff Jim Hammond announced that the Regional Suicide Prevention Network recognized Monica Middlebrooks, Crisis Intervention Team Manager for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for making great contributions to suicide prevention in the state of Tennessee. Ms. Middlebrooks was selected from a field of nominees by members of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Southeast Regional Advisory Council. Ms. Middlebrooks is a member of the state Advisory Council, having been appointed to this post by the Office of the Governor.
Ms. Middlebrooks was recognized for the links she has built between Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office through her role as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Manager. Specifically, Ms. Middlebrooks has worked to promote the inclusion of suicide prevention within the CIT curriculum. In doing so she has provided mental health resources and suicide prevention awareness to law enforcement personnel within Hamilton County and across southeast Tennessee. To date, 125 officers from 18 law enforcement agencies across southeastern Tennessee have been exposed to suicide prevention and intervention information through CIT.
Ms. Middlebrooks received her award at the Suicide Prevention Awareness Day event held at Trevecca Community Church in Nashville on Wednesday, Sept. 12, alongside winners from other Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network regions. Commissioner Doug Varney of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was present for the event to provide remarks on behalf of his department. He also presented a signed proclamation from Governor Bill Haslam recognizing the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Tennessee.