SLIDE 10 5/30/2017 10
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR):
Ask a Question, Save a Life
- ANYONE can be trained as a Gatekeeper and learn to: Recognize warning signs,
Ask someone about suicidal thoughts, Offer hope, and Connect to help
- Developed by Paul Quinnett Ph.D., in partnership with
– Spokane Mental Health – Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training – State of Washington Dept. of Health – Spokane County Health Dept – Sacred Heart Medical Center – Eastern Washington University School of Social Work – Suicide Awareness\Voices of Education (SA\VE) – Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (SPAN USA) – American Association of Suicidology
- In‐person and online training options (www.qprinstitute.com)
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR):
Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Taskforce’s Local QPR Initiative
- Research and comparison of other training options (ASIST, SAFETalk, MHFA)
- Yearly train‐the‐trainer (25 trainers w/diverse backgrounds and experiences)
- Approx. 2,000 people trained in QPR by taskforce sponsored trainers since 2015
– Teachers – Religious groups – Social service workers (serving: mental health, criminal justice, youth, and the elderly) – Health dept. – College students (Psychology 101 partnership, RA’s, Orientation leaders) – NAMI – Local politicians as hosts – Teenagers/students – Open community trainings
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR):
QPR as a Community‐Driven Prevention Initiative
- Can be delivered BY and TO community members
– Discuss: training relevance for clinically trained professionals
- Low material costs (books and materials are able to be
covered by minimal donations)
- Fidelity to training model is basic, room for adaptability is high
- Next Steps:
– Add bilingual trainers to bureau – Add more (attempt) survivor trainers – Create training packages for specific groups (Veterans, Elderly, Youth, Law Enforcement, Communities of Faith, Clinical Professionals)
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): MontCo Training Flow
- Video: Brene Brown on Empathy
- Introductions
- Self‐Care Expectations
- Video: The Dille Family (HOPE 4 Tomorrow)
- Video: About QPR/Global Stats & Data
- Myths & Facts
- Why would someone take their own life?
(Owl Brain, Lizard Brain)
- Local Data & Trends
- Warning Signs (What People Say, What
People Do, What’s Happening in Someone’s Life)
- Interactive Review
- Q: QUESTION‐ How to Ask
- Interactive Practice/Scripted Role Play
- Video: A Survivor’s Perspective on the
Importance of Asking (Kevin Hines/Buzzfeed)
- P: PERSUADE‐ How to Persuade
someone to stay alive and seek help
- Interactive Practice/Scripted Role Play
- R: REFER‐ Review of national and local
resources
- Interactive Practice/Scripted Role Play
- Peyton Heart Project
What we’ve learned: immense benefit of strategic use of videos and interactive practice, open trainings always attract folks with some type of lived experience, co-trainers tend to be more powerful than single trainers (especially if one of the trainers is a survivor or a person with lived experience), attendees are experts in humanity and inform future trainings.
QPR: Suicide Myths and Facts
No one can stop a suicide, it is inevitable.
If people in a crisis get the help they need, they will probably never be suicidal again.
Confronting a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide.
Asking someone directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act.
Only experts can prevent suicide.
Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and anyone can help prevent the tragedy of suicide
Suicidal people keep their plans to themselves.
Most suicidal people communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt.
Those who talk about suicide don’t do it.
People who talk about suicide may try, or even complete, an act of self‐destruction.
Once a person decides to complete suicide, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.
Suicide is the most preventable kind of death, and almost any positive action may save a life.
If a suicidal young person tells a friend, the friend will access help.
Most young people do not tell an adult.