Suicide Prevention Training: Question, Persuade and Refer

In partnership with the Health Department of New Canaan, we present a suicide prevention QPR class. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can use to help prevent suicide.

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives, those 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.

This training will certify you as a QPR gatekeeper.

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 get help and save a life