Lawrence County Highlights Suicide Prevention Resources

Lawrenceburg Mayor Blake Lay and Lawrence County Executive David Morgan recognized September as Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness about warning signs, treatment options, and ways to support those in need. Shortly after the proclamation, the community learned that a young man who attended Executive Morgan’s church had died by suicide, underscoring the importance of mental health resources. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts are encouraged to call or text 988 to connect immediately with a trained counselor who can provide support and connect them to local resources. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) offers free training and resources for individuals, businesses, churches, and community groups. TSPN works to reduce the stigma of suicide and supports families and friends coping with the loss of a loved one. More information is available at tspn.org. In Lawrence County, TSPN partners with Lawrence County Schools to expand student mental health support. The district was an early recipient of the five-year Project AWARE grant, which funded school-based therapy. After the grant ended, the district hired in-house school-based therapists, with support from the Lawrence County Commission, to ensure students consistently see the same counselor. Five therapists are currently employed by the district, with an additional therapist funded through Centerstone. Students may self-refer or be referred by parents, teachers, or staff. Referrals can be made through lcss.us under Resources → School-Based Therapy Services. The program has helped reduce suicide-related emergency room visits among youth, with most alerts now occurring during school breaks or summer months. Parents are encouraged to monitor children’s social media activity, set limits on phone use, discuss online safety and cyberbullying, and model healthy technology habits. Algorithms can repeatedly expose children to harmful content without parents realizing it. Lawrence County continues working with schools, TSPN, and community partners to reduce stigma, expand mental health resources, and ensure support is available to anyone in need.