Surveys show that most healthcare professionals, including mental health professionals, do not receive specific or adequate training in how to help those at risk of suicide. Unless you are a psychiatrist, the odds are you did not receive adequate and specific suicide intervention or treatment as part of your professional academic experience. Your patients assume that you are competent to help them or their loved ones survive a suicide crisis.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the world. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Gatekeepers can be anyone, but include parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.

Each participant receives a booklet that contains all the material covered in the class, as well as referral numbers/information. A certificate of completion is provided to all participants after the class. Participants also receive addition items such as stress balls, pens/pencils, and other suicide prevention items for attending.

NOTE: This training will be provided at no cost to the participants. Cost of materials will be covered by grant funding. Total number of trainings to be determined. Please contact Steven Rogers to discuss further (860)560-3640.

Outline:

• PowerPoint presentation
  • Suicide Myths and Facts
  • Clues and Warning signs
  • How to Ask the Question
  • How to Persuade someone to get help
  • Where to Refer
• Videos
• Web-based role play exercises
• Questions

1. Recognize the common causes of suicidal behavior
2. Recognize the warning signs of suicide
3. Identify local and national resources to help themselves or someone in crisis
4. Recognize opportunities to bring suicide prevention training to clinical and non-clinical team members within your institution