If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call now. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 988. You can also chat with 988lifeline.org.
Hamilton County Family Justice Center Education Coordinator Sonya Reaves has been safekeeping her friend’s bullets for over a year after recognizing she was going through a rough time.
She would rather have her friend alive than ignore the warning signs, Reaves said.
The Family Justice Center hosted dozens of people Wednesday to focus on resources that can help prevent suicide, as the month of September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in 2023 with a statewide death rate that was 22% higher than the national rate, according to the Tennessee Department of Health 2025 Suicide Prevention Annual Report.
Here are some key takeaways about who is affected, prevention help and available resources.
— The onus of preventing suicide isn’t on any one person, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network Southeast Regional Director Bryan Barks said. It’s important to be aware of the signs and be knowledgeable about ways to respond.
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It affects entire communities when a person dies by suicide and can even have a “contagious effect,” meaning those who have been exposed personally or through the media can be at increased risk, Barks said.
Hamilton County center shares resources, ways to help prevent suicide
“Everyone plays a role in preventing suicide,” Barks said.
— If a person displays changes in behavior, such as taking dangerous risks, displaying extreme mood swings or giving away important items, it may be a warning sign of suicidal thoughts and a reason to seek help, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
— Firearms cause the majority of suicide deaths, Barks said. All gun owners should adopt safe storage practices.
It takes time to unlock a gun safe, ammunition and load a firearm, and it gives a person the opportunity to pause and recognize a need for help, Barks said. It also keeps firearms away from others who shouldn’t have access.
When a person is at risk inside his or her home, the best option may be to temporarily store any firearms elsewhere (trusted family, some law enforcement agencies, gun shops).
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A similar approach should be taken with properly storing, locking up and disposing of medications, officials said.
— Men seemingly are less likely to ask for help, said Bryan Humphreys, the site director of integrated services for River Valley Health in Chattanooga. The suicide rate has been about 3.8 times higher for Tennessee men than woman over the past five years.
— Over 40% of people who die by suicide were seen in a primary care setting within a month before their death, Humphreys said. Some local facilities, such as River Valley Health, offer integrated care that can help address mental health, substance abuse, life stressors and other factors that may be missed at a standard doctor’s appointment.
— Members of the public can help themselves and others by acting when a person appears to be in crisis and taking suicide first-aid training. There are local resources that can be found at www.preventsuicidetn.com. Those in need can call or text 988 and press 0 for free, confidential help.
Contact courts reporter Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.