WASHINGTON D.C. - Anne Cronin Tyson of Ironwood has received a national award for her contributions to suicide prevention and educating those who work with suicide survivors.

Tyson received the Sandy Martin Grassroots Award from the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, the national grassroots advocacy organization working to advance public policies that prevent suicide.

"It was a wonderful surprise to receive the award for our work. It means a lot to me to be honored by my peers who do so much work in the trenches themselves," Tyson wrote in an e-mail Tuesday from Texas.

The award was presented at SPANUSA's Suicide Prevention Legislative Institute, "Achieving Change Through Action," in Washington D.C. The award is given each year to one or more "unsung heroes" working at the state or local level who clearly exemplify sustained commitment to the mission of suicide prevention.

Tyson is a survivor of the suicide death of her son, Ted, her husband's uncle and her niece. She is a spiritual director in a private practice in Michigan and Texas.

"Anne has the ability to understand the spiritual dynamics and challenges survivors face and therefore has a unique understanding of the needs of survivors," said Jerry Reed, executive director of SPAN USA. "Her work is remarkable and has impacted many people."

Tyson, who divides her time between Ironwood and Texas, is co-founder of Healing Hearts Ministries with Karen Covey Moore of Delaware. They lead survivor retreats and educational workshops for faith community and mental health professionals who work with suicide survivors.

In 2007, Tyson and Moore presented a paper at the World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention in Ireland. The Congress received more than 900 applications and accepted 150 papers, according to Tyson.

Tyson has received advanced training in critical incident stress debriefing. She facilitates grief support and survivor support groups and is active in suicide prevention on the local, state and national levels.

She was pastoral associate at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood for 10 years until 2002. After that, she studied spiritual direction for three years.

Tyson is a member of Spiritual Directors International, Wellness Institute of America, National Association of Death Education & Counseling, National Association of Lay Ministers, American Association of Suicidology, International Association of Suicide Prevention and the Association of Christian Therapists.