
Misty Leitsch, BBA, BSW, Zero Suicide Director
Misty Leitsch oversees the statewide implementation of the Zero Suicide Initiative by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network in partnership with community mental health centers, emergency departments in small and rural hospitals, alcohol and drug treatment facilities, and select private business partners.
Misty also works on the Clarksville mayor’s challenge to prevent veteran suicides, the statewide veterans suicide prevention task force, several intra-state departmental initiatives, and the Montgomery, Houston, Humphreys, Robertson, and Stewart Counties task force. Misty is a certified trainer for QPR, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, safeTalk, Youth Mental Health First Aid, safety planning and CSSRS. Misty is also a Psychological Autopsy Investigator.
Before joining TSPN’s staff, she served for five years on the TSPN Advisory Council, having been appointed to this post by the Office of the Governor of Tennessee. As chair of TSPN’s Mid-Cumberland Region, Misty organized the region’s first Annual Memorial Walk and conducted numerous suicide prevention training sessions for crisis centers, behavioral health facilities, schools, businesses, and civic groups.
Misty double-majored in social work and business administration while working on her bachelor’s degree at Belmont University in Nashville, graduating in 2007. Outside of work, Misty likes spending time with her family, being outdoors, and having food adventures.