GLASSBORO, N.J. – To help reduce teen suicide, the Gloucester County Office of Mental Health in partnership with Glassboro High School are hosting suicide prevention training called QPR — Question. Persuade. Refer. — at Glassboro High School on August 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. presented by the NJ Disaster and Terrorism Branch.
According to New Jersey State Health Assessment Data website, “suicide is the third leading cause of death among New Jersey residents aged 10-29 years, fifth among those aged 30-34, fourth among those aged 35-49, and 14th among all ages.”
QPR is an emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons, in way that CPR is an emergency physical health intervention, that was created in 1995 to teach people to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to the proper care.
The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training.
“We believe that quality education empowers all people to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know, and this program is designed to help train people how to recognize warning signs [of suicide] and how to get help for those in crisis,” Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said in a statement.
Freeholder Jim Jefferson, Liaison to the Division of Human Services, Office of Mental Health, stated that the QPR training is for all ages.
“This training is geared at parents, teachers, school staff, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, police officers, advisers, caseworkers, firefighters, and others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide,” Jefferson said. “Offering hope and knowing how to get help and save a life is a skill and this training gives people those tools.”
The QPR training is free, but registration is required. Register by emailing the Gloucester County Office of Mental Health: mhsinfo@co.gloucester.nj.us.
Glassboro High School is located at 550 Joseph Bowe Blvd., Glassboro.
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