SummitStone Health Partners offers free suicide prevention training during Mental Health Awareness Month
FORT COLLINS — The suicide rate in America is the highest it has been in decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This national crisis does not discriminate across age groups, genders or race. Colorado consistently rates in the top ten states, with 22.1 deaths by suicide per every 100,000 people.
In order to save lives and combat this startling and tragic statistic, SummitStone Health Partners is offering three free suicide prevention trainings during the month of May, which is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Question, Persuade, Refer, or QPR training, teaches how to respond to someone who may be having suicidal thoughts. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. Taught in a clear, concise format, QPR training can help anyone to identify warning signs of suicide, teach how to get help for someone in crisis and how to apply the QPR training with someone who may be suicidal.
“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we thought offering our QPR training to the community would be a great opportunity to keep the dialogue going about mental health,” said Certified QPR Trainer Robyn Potter. “We know that talking about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication and lowers the risk of an impulsive act.”
Registration is required for the free trainings, which last 60 to 90 minutes. Visit www.summitstone.org/QPR for details and to register.
- Friday, May 10, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., Fort Collins
- Monday, May 13— 5:30 to 7 p.m., Desk Chair, 201 E 4th St., Loveland
- Thursday May 30— 1 to 2:30 p.m., Downtown Artery, 254 Linden St., Fort Collins