Join the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network for an honest conversation about mental wellness during September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This panel brings together mental health professionals, and lived experience voices to break down stigma and provide practical tools for supporting yourself and your peers.

Our speakers will address common mental health challenges, share warning signs to recognize when someone might be struggling, and connect you with resources. Whether you're looking to support a friend, understand your own mental health journey, or learn how to be part of the solution, this panel offers real talk without judgment.

Come ready for an open dialogue about building resilience, finding help, and creating a culture where mental health matters.

About Our Panelists

Cindy Johnson

Cindy Curtis Johnson is a Tennessee native. She is a wife, mother, “Gammi”, author, social worker, Senior Hospice Care Consultant, suicide prevention advocate, and inspirational speaker. In September of 2009, Cindy’s life and the life of her family changed forever. Her 20 year old son, Brandon, died as a result of self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the days and months that followed, she was forced to reexamine everything in her life: her experiences, her relationships, her assumptions about God’s plans for her, and her dreams for the future. She knew she couldn’t bring her son back, but she wanted to make a difference. She wanted to follow the path God desired for her. As a result, since her son’s suicide, Cindy has focused on helping others cope with tragedy by sharing her story, providing support services, raising awareness of mental health issues, and providing suicide prevention trainings.

Dr. Valerie Leake

Dr. Leake earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2006. She completed her internship at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and joined the faculty at Radford University in Virginia in 2007 after spending a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Psychology program. In 2014, she left Radford to work at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Clinical Team and as Evidence-Based Psychotherapies Coordinator. She returned to Radford University as Director of the Psy.D. program from 2016-2021. She joined the Psy D in Counseling Psychology program faculty at Austin Peay State University as Director in 2021. Her research interests include military veteran reintegration, particularly for rural veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, evidence-based treatments, integrated care, and adolescent belonging. Dr. Leake is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP) where she served as Secretary, and a commissioner on APA's Commission on Accreditation (CoA).She is licensed as a clinical psychologist in Tennessee with the health service provider (HSP) designation and enjoys working with veterans, couples, and families.

Dr. Sarah Mendoza

Dr. Sarah L. Mendoza is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling at Austin Peay State University. She is a licensed mental health counselor and qualified supervisor (LMHC-QS) in Florida and a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Montana. Additionally, she is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). With over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Mendoza has a wide range of expertise in mental health. She has provided individual, group, and family therapy across all levels of mental health care. She has focused experience with primarily adult, dual-diagnosis patients at a joint-commission accredited residential hospital. Her roles included Director of Admission, Patient Care Advocate, Clinician on Call and coordinating patient care with the interdisciplinary treatment team and outside treatment providers. Dr. Mendoza is proud to be part of the APSU team and prepare future mental health counselors.