Veteran/Military Resources – Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network

Blue Star Families has developed a series of PSAs for active-duty military personnel and their families. View the entire series on BSF’s YouTube channel.

In recent years, veteran mental health issues have come to the forefront of the public consciousness, and with them the problem of veteran suicide. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is working with Veteran’s Administration across the state to address suicide prevention among veterans and other members of the military community.

This portion of our website offers the several resources for current and former members of the United States military and their loved ones. The most important being below. Use the menu to the right for additional resources. Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK, Veterans Press 1 For immediate crisis services, The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has founded a national suicide prevention hotline to ensure veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors.

To operate the Veterans Hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and press “1” to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline. Staff members are specially trained to take calls from military veterans and its staffed 24 hours a day, everyday. While all operators are trained to help veterans, some are also former military personnel. All callers will be connected to most appropriate resources.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also has an extensive amount of resources on the website for veterans. Please link here to access the page which includes a 24/7 Live Chat option as well as a resource locator, enrollment and benefits information, etc.

Tennessee contacts for Veteran’s Administration Hospitals Suicide Prevention Coordinators:

Renee Brown	Memphis	(901) 523-8990, extension 5873	renee.brown3@va.gov
Paul D. Fisher	Murfreesboro	(615) 867-6000, extension 23926	paul.fisher3@va.gov
Leslie Murray	Tennessee Valley	(615) 873-6074	leslie.murray@va.gov
Pam Willis	Mountain Home	(423) 926-1171, extension 2837	pamela.willis@va.gov
Debbie Cohan	Knoxville	(865) 545-4592, extension 213	debra.cohan@va.gov

Kentucky contacts for Veteran’s Administration hospitals Suicide Prevention Coordinators:

Barbara Kaminer	Louisville	(502) 287-4011	barbara.kaminer@va.gov
Sandra Roe	Lexington	(859) 233-4511, extension 3233	sandra.roe1@va.gov

Tennessee’s local Vet Centers:

Chattanooga	951 Eastgate Loop Road, Building 5700, Suite 300	37411	(423) 855-6570	(423) 855-6575
Johnson City	1615A Market Street	37604	(423) 928-8387	(423) 928-6320
Knoxville	2817 East Magnolia Avenue	37914	(865) 545-4680	(865) 545-4198
Memphis	1835 Union, Suite 100	38104	(901) 544-0173	(901) 544-0179
Nashville	1420 Donelson Pike, Suite A-5	37217	(615) 366-1220	(615) 366-1351

Normal working hours at all centers are 8 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. In an effort to better serve veterans and family members, Vet Centers may provide services after normal work hours and/or on weekends upon request.