Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Walworth County.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of this often stigmatized subject and share information so that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.
Critical to any discussion around suicide prevention is knowing how to recognize the warning signs of a friend or family member who is struggling and what you can do to help. That’s the goal of the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Training, hosted by the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
QPR is a nationally recognized, emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons created in 1995 by Paul Quinnett. Its goal is to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to the proper care. During the QPR Training program, participants will learn the three simple steps to help save a life from suicide—Question, Persuade, and Refer. Just as people trained in CPR save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to offer hope, and how to refer someone to help.
“You may know someone who is struggling, but you may not know how to help,” says Walworth County Public Health Officer Erica Bergstrom. “This program is designed to give anyone the tools they need to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and persuade the person to seek and accept help.”
The free educational program is open to anyone over the age of 15. The event will be held at the Walworth County DHHS building at 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn.
Pre-registration is required at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/399034130827 or (262) 741-3200. Learn more about QPR at www.co.walworth.wi.us/1002/QPR-Question-Persuade-Refer.
