A recent news article printed in the New Tampa Neighborhood News is about the recent North Chamber “Pitch With A Purpose” Breakfast, where T.C. represented SPTI in a nonprofit panel discussion. Here is an excerpt about SPTI:
According to his bio, Dr. Copper provided behavioral health services to the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, Army Substance Abuse Program for 35 years. In each of his assignments, he was deeply involved in suicide prevention education efforts and during his tenure with the U.S. Army, he became a registered LivingWorks ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills).

Today, since founding SPTI in 2019, he said, “We offer a two-day workshop where we teach individuals how to do hands-on learning. Our program is evidence-based. When individuals pre-test showed that 38% of the 373 individuals we’ve trained who said, ‘Yeah, I think I can go out and help a person with thoughts of suicide.’

“At the end of our training, we’re at 96% who say, “I feel confident I can talk to a person with thoughts of suicide and hold that conversation with them and get them the help they need.’

Dr. Copper wasn’t shy about what he needed from the people in the room was “financial support. We don’t have enough lifesavers to keep growing and our greatest priority is to increase our trainings. Last year, thanks to financial donations, we reached a goal of hosting 12 ASIST trainings. Why not become a sponsor for us? Host your own ASIST workshop, or pay for your employees to get them trained?”

He also quoted stats that said there were 106 suicides in Pasco and 225 in Hillsborough County in 2024. “But, ladies and gentlemen even though I hate cliches, sometimes they ring true – one suicide is too many.”

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