Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Crisis Intervention Team Manager Monica Middlebrooks was recently recognized with the Regional Suicide Prevention Award.

Middlebrooks was selected from a field of nominees by members of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Southeast Regional Advisory Council for making contributions to suicide prevention in Tennessee.

She has worked to promote the inclusion of suicide prevention within Hamilton County's Crisis Intervention Team, providing mental health resources and suicide prevention awareness to law enforcement. So far, 125 officers from 18 law enforcement agencies in Southeast Tennesse have received training.

Commissioner Doug Varney of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services presented Middlebrooks with her award and a signed proclamation from Gov. Bill Haslam recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Tennessee.