In partnership with the New Canaan Health Department, New Canaan Library is presenting a two-hour suicide prevention “QPR” class for adults. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can use to help prevent suicide.
— an announcement from the New Canaan Library website
Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives, those trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying “Yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
This training will certify you as a QPR gatekeeper.
What is a gatekeeper?
According to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001), a gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.
Gatekeepers can be anyone, but include parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.
As a QPR-trained gatekeeper, you will learn to:
• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Know how to offer hope
• Know how to get help and save a life
If You’re Attending …
The class takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, July 19 in the McLaughlin Reading Room at New Canaan Library, 151 Main St., downtown New Canaan.