Question. Persuade. Refer.
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Three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide.
What is QPR?
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
What is a Gatekeeper?
According to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001), 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. As a QPR- trained gatekeeper, you will learn to:
Recognize the warning signs of suicide
Know how to offer hope
Know how to help and save a life
Early Recognition
A well-executed, strong and positive response to the early warning signs of a pending suicide event may render positive results. Most people thinking about suicide are suffering from an undiagnosed and/or untreated mental illness or substance use disorder for which excellent treatments exist.
The prompt recognition of the scream of a smoke detector can eliminate the need to suppress a raging fire. In just that way, by recognizing early the warning signs of suicide, opening a supporting dialogue with a suicidal person and securing consultation a professional may prevent the need for an emergency room visit or psychiatric hospitalization.
In QPR the general public is educated about the known warning signs of a suicide crisis: expressions of hopelessness, depression, giving away prized possessions, talking of suicide, securing lethal means, and then taught how to respond.
Campbell County Health Behavioral Services is here for you and your loved ones, providing Northeast Wyoming with compassionate, confidential and comprehensive treatment and counseling for behavioral disorders, mental illness and substance abuse treatment following detox.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the Crisis Line at 307.688.5555 or call/text 988 anytime.
If you are interested in QPR training, visit https://qprinstitute.com/about-qpr for more information.
