Quinco Brings Attention to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Quinco Mental Health Center continued its work of suicide awareness and prevention with a proclamation, which was signed by Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse and Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic on Friday, September 12, 2025. National Suicide Prevention Awareness month is recognized in September and Quinco has partnered with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to educate individuals in the counties it represents and serves.
Michelle Guia, Quinco Director of Crisis Services, met with Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse and the Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic for their signing. Both mayors were honored to participate in the effort and are supportive of the work Quinco is doing for people in Hardeman County. As signed in the proclamation they, ” . . . urge all citizens to work to prevent suicide and to raise awareness and compassion around all people affected by this tragedy.“
“Suicide awareness is important because it directly saves lives and supports healthier communities. Raising awareness helps people recognize warning signs such as hopelessness, withdrawal, or drastic moods changes in themselves or others,” said Ms. Guia, who has worked in the mental health services field for 28 years. “Awareness efforts encourage open conversations about mental health and normalizes seeking help, making it more likely that people in crisis will reach out before it’s too late.”
By the end of the month, Ms. Guia will have visited the mayors in all the counties Quinco serves, which include Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, and McNairy, for them to sign the proclamation. She believes intervention and support can prevent tragedy. Also, ongoing education is needed.
The proclamation reads:
WHEREAS, suicide is a tremendous form of suffering and one of the most disruptive and tragic events a family and a community can experience, with more than 1,200 lives lost in Tennessee each year and an estimated 25 attempted suicides for each suicide death; and
WHEREAS, suicide is the twelfth leading cause of death in Tennessee, the third leading cause of death among youth and young adults ages of 10 to 24 as well as the fourth leading cause of death of adults 35-44 and the eighth leading cause of death of adults ages 45-54; and
WHEREAS understanding the risk of suicide can be reduced through awareness, education, and treatment; and
WHEREAS, suicide prevention has been declared a state priority by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Legislature; and
WHEREAS, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved one, and best practices for professionals in the United States; and
WHEREAS, a Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council has been appointed to coordinate the implementation of the Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TPSN) is a grassroots collaboration of Tennesseans and organization working to eliminate the stigma of suicide, educate the community about the warning signs of suicide, and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide in our state; and
WHEREAS, TPSN encourages all Tennesseans to become trained and play a role in suicide prevention to support quality of life.
WHEREAS, everyone can play a role in suicide prevention by learning and sharing the risk and warning signs, decreasing the stigma as a means to promote help-seeking by talking about suicide using safe messaging, and sharing the available resources . . .
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“When people know where to turn, like crisis hotlines, community resources, or mental health professionals, they are more likely to access support,” said Ms. Guia.
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