The Power Of Open Conversations: QPR Training

By ANNIE GARDNER

Sometimes it’s the hardest things that we need to talk about the most and the loudest. September is suicide awareness month – a topic that is hard to discuss and one that is usually whispered about in hushed tones in grievance after the fact. Though the topic may be heavy, and discussions can be uncomfortable, feel embarrassing, or seem intrusive, bridging the gap and asking hard questions and having hard conversations could literally save a life. For this reason, we need to normalize safe conversations around self-harm and suicide, and train everyone on how to respond in crisis.

The Coronado Bay Bridge forces the Coronado community to confront suicide on a regular basis. Unfortunately, most people know someone or know of someone who has taken their own life. Suicide is far too prevalent in our culture to keep quiet about. We need to have the hard discussions, ask blatant questions and make resources readily available. Fortunately, there is hope. There are strategies we can use to help those in need. There are resources. There are people who care. No matter how dark it seems, there is light.

One of the best ways to train to help those in crisis is to take a QPR course. Like CPR, QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, is a national program designed to be an automatic response to crisis. It is a simple, direct method that is easily recalled when needed to save lives. QPR aims to teach participants how to listen carefully for direct and indirect statements, as well as how to notice behavioral and environmental clues that may be indicators of suicide ideation or mental crisis, and then it teaches ways to respond. The goal is to educate, to foster an atmosphere and culture of safety where individuals feel seen, heard and cared for, and to offer hope.

One of the biggest misconceptions around suicide is that talking or asking directly about it plants the seed and makes it more likely someone will follow through on the act. In fact, the prevalence of suicide in our culture makes it unlikely people are unaware of this issue. People are either thinking about it, or they are not. Thus, the only way we can know for sure what someone is thinking about is to ask direct questions. QPR teaches what questions to ask and how to ask them. From there, it teaches how to respond and ways to offer resources.

By addressing the issue head on and being unafraid to ask direct questions, we create an environment of safety and awareness. We create a community and build caring networks of connection. There is hope, there is help, and there are strategies. See the QR code below to join QPR training at the library on September 11th and learn ways to respond to mental crisis. It’s worth a little discomfort to save a life.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 for immediate help.

Safe Harbor Coronado provides low-cost counseling, youth and parenting programs, and community education. For more information go to SafeHarborCoronado.org, sign up for the e-newsletter, and follow us on social media @ SafeHarborCoronado to stay connected and make sure you never miss a Safe Harbor Event!