Above: QPR Institute promotes that three steps can help anyone prevent a suicide. SYFS is encouraging community members concerned about teens to learn more about those steps. (image cropped from Facebook)
Next Wednesday, Southborough Youth and Family Services is holding a “Suicide Prevention for Teens” training for community members. The free workshop will train participants on how to recognize and appropriately respond to concerning signs.
As usual, registration is required and participation is capped for the session — but there is currently plenty of room.
Although the next session will be held at Algonquin, it’s geared for adults/parents. (I’m told that Algonquin has its own program addressing suicide and mental health concerns with students within the school curriculum.) The upcoming session is on December 13th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Registration is available here.
The form also allows you to request notification of future sessions. And while this program is currently promoted to reduce teen suicides, the program is relevant to potential suicides of people at any age.
I’ve shared details on past Southborough Youth & Family Services QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention trainings. But it has been a while, so I’m sharing it again.
In the past, SYFS has written:
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in America but when surveyed, 93% of Americans believe suicide can be prevented. (CDC, 2019) Luckily they are right: it is often and easily the most preventable cause of death.
The QPR Gatekeeper Training is considered a “program with evidence of effectiveness,” which means that it is a SAMSHA-approved program with data supporting its efficacy.
The QPR acronym stands for the three critical steps in the prevention method. SYFS explains:
Not unlike CPR it teaches basic skills to help a person in crisis. In this 2-hour training, you are taught how to ask the suicide Question, how to Persuade a person to tell you more, and to seek help and Refer to outside help. It is offered in a small setting of no more than 12 participants to allow for time to ask lots of questions and try out newly learned skills through role-plays.
Speaking with me this morning, SYFS’ Shannon Kinayman said that the beauty of the program that skills learned are valuable beyond suicide prevention. They can also be used to have conversations when you notice someone who isn’t suicidal struggling with emotional issues.
If you have questions about the program or need help registering, call her at 508-481-5676, ext. 3.
For information on other SYFS programs (like Listen with L.O.V.E. and Say it wth L.O.V.E.), click here.
