QPR Training Returning to Needham

Question. Persuade. Refer. Three steps which some say could save a life.

The core of the QPR suicide prevention program is those three steps, and the program is based on a national strategy, according to an announcement on the Town Website. 

The course expands on four basic concepts, taken from the Announcement: 

• The notion that those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least likely to ask for it.
• The person most likely to prevent a person dying by suicide is someone they already know.
• Prior to making a suicide attempt, a person typically sends warning signs of his or her distress and suicidal intent to those nearby.
• When we solve the problems people kill themselves to solve, the reasons for suicide disappear.

Next month, Needham Youth Services offers a course on suicide prevention loosely inspired by CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation). The class lasts for an hour, and is free--although it is limted to 20 seats, so they request you RSVP (a form is available on the last page of the NYS newsletter).

For more information, contact Jon Mattleman at 781-455-7500 x265 or at jmattleman@needhamma.gov

Below is the full press release from Needham Youth Services:

What can you learn in an 100 minutes? Maybe enough to save someone’s life.

Needham Youth Services (formerly the Needham Youth Commission) and the Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention are offering a QPR Suicide Prevention Training for Adults/Parents. This is a FREE program, and hundreds in Needham have already been trained.

The QPR Suicide Prevention model (Question, Persuade,Refer) is based upon the following concepts: Those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least likely to ask for it; The person most likely to prevent a person dying by suicide is someone they already know; and that prior to making a suicide attempt, a person typically sends warning signs of their distress and suicidal intent to those around them. Space will be limited to 20 participants and pre-registration is mandatory

Editor's Note: The YouTube video embedded above was originally posted in Oct. 2012, and makes reference to a Nov. 27 course. This has passed. The upcoming class is Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m.