What is QPR?

Submitted by Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition

What is QPR?

“Question, Persuade, Refer”

Warning: This article discusses suicide.

QPR stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer” and it’s used to intervene to prevent suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

Here in Thermopolis, the Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition is committed to training as many people in our community in QPR. Jennifer Cheney, Community Prevention Specialist, offers a one hour Gatekeeper training for individuals and community organizations. If anyone is interested in attending a training or arranging one with a group, they can contact her at jcheney@hotsprings1.org.

What’s really interesting about this approach is that you don’t have to be a mental health professional to use it. QPR is designed to provide training on how to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be considering taking their own life. The term “gatekeeper” refers to anyone who may benefit from learning how to use QPR to intervene to stop a suicide. Gatekeepers can be anyone, but include family, friends, neighbors, teachers and school personnel, clergy, healthcare providers, work supervisors, law enforcement and others in a community. Each year thousands of Americans are taking this training and saying “Yes” to potentially saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

It’s important to understand that about 90% of people in a suicidal crisis will give some kind of warning to those around them. Warning signs can include previous suicide attempts, alcohol and drug abuse, statements revealing or suggesting a desire to die, sudden behavior changes, depression, giving away personal belongings, and purchasing a gun or stockpiling pills. Although we can’t predict suicide for any one individual, we can prevent a suicide if someone reveals their plans and we can intervene quickly and effectively. Often times, the simple offering of hope and social and spiritual support can avert a suicide attempt.

The QPR approach has three steps. The following information is provided to give you an idea of the training. It is not a substitute for going through the actual one hour training.

1) Q = Question

If you believe someone is considering suicide, ask them directly “Are you thinking about suicide or wanting to kill yourself?” Don’t say “Do you want to hurt yourself?” as self-harm can be non-lethal and it’s not the same as wanting to die. Also remember that if you ask someone if they want to kill themselves, this does NOT drive them toward that action. That’s a myth that’s not accurate. Don’t be afraid to ask the question.

2) P = Persuade

Persuade the person to allow you to assist them in getting help right now. Say “Will you go with me to get help?” or “Will you let me assist you to get help?” Another option can be to enlist their promise not to kill themselves until you’ve arranged help for them. If persuasion doesn’t work, call a local mental health center, crisis hotline or emergency services.

3) R = Refer

Refer the person to an appropriate resource for assistance. It’s ideal if you can personally escort them to see a health care professional. Next best would be to assist in making arrangements for help and getting their agreement to follow through on this plan. Less preferable is to provide referral resources and have them seek one of the options on their own.

Just as CPR prepares you for stepping in to assist with a cardiac emergency, QPR will give you the skills and knowledge to intervene to possibly prevent a suicide. Gatekeeper Training is designed for everyone to feel more confident that they can help out during a crisis. Every day in Wyoming, someone takes their life by suicide. Please consider taking the QPR Gateway training and help with suicide prevention in our town and state.

If you are struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.