QPR

What is QPR?

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. QPR Gatekeeper Training is a suicide prevention program that provides the knowledge needed to reach out to a friend, peer, student, family member, or colleague who may be experiencing suicidality and connect them to resources that will help.

QPR Gatekeepers are those in a position to recognize the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Once trained, Gatekeepers will have the knowledge needed to assist someone in crisis.

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Why learn QPR?

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students. In 2006, 10.6% of UBC students who responded to the National College Health Assessment survey reported having thought of suicide, and 1.3% reported having attempted suicide one or more times in the last school year.

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How can QPR help prevent suicide?

Suicide is preventable. QPR acts as an emergency mental health intervention designed to save lives much like CPR, which is an emergency medical intervention.

QPR is designed to save lives by increasing awareness of suicide risk factors and warning signs, as well as teaching how to talk to someone who is exhibiting warning signs and persuade them to seek appropriate mental health services. In this way QPR increases the likelihood that someone who is experiencing suicidality will be noticed and assisted in getting the help they need.

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What will you learn as a QPR Gatekeeper?

The goals of QPR Gatekeeper Training are to enhance general awareness about suicide, teach the warning signs of suicide thinking and behavior, and teach basic intervention skills that can help avert suicide.

In QPR Gatekeeper Training, participants learn about:

• The nature of suicide communication.
• What forms suicide communications take and how they may be used to identify someone who may be at risk for suicide.
• How to reach out to someone who is exhibiting signs of risk
• How to facilitate referral to mental health resources
• What resources to refer to.

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How to become a QPR Gatekeeper

Become a Gatekeeper to help prevent suicide. To date, dozens of faculty, staff, and students have been trained as QPR Gatekeepers at UBC.

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How can Gatekeepers help?

You can become a QPR Gatekeeper by taking one of the training sessions being held at UBC's Okanagan campus this year. QPR Gatekeeper Training is completed in a one- to two-hour workshop depending on prior knowledge and experience of the participant group.

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Want to know more about Gatekeeper training and upcoming workshops?

To receive QPR Gatekeeper Training or to organize QPR Gatekeeper Training for your department or student group, please email Tracey Hawthorn at tracey.hawthorn@ubc.ca  

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Interested in becoming a QPR Instructor?

Roles and responsibilities

QPR instructors respond to requests from within their unit, and in the larger University community, to facilitate QPR Gatekeeper training, which is approximately two hours in length.

QPR instructors are not expected to be counselors or experts on the topic of suicide or mental health, but facilitators of basic training.

Duties of QPR instructors

• Booking space
• Ordering materials
• Coordinating A/V requirements
• Preparing for and facilitating workshops
• Answering questions from participants
• Referring participants to other resources
• Collecting evaluations from participants
• Reporting workshop outcomes to the QPR Steering Committee

Responsibilities of QPR instructors

• Reading and responding to communication from the QPR Steering Committee, the QPR Institute, and other QPR facilitators.
• Meeting the need for Gatekeeper training in their unit, and acting as an informational resource.
• Attending training and educational sessions for material updates and personal skill development.
• Sharing knowledge and experience about suicide awareness and prevention with the UBC community.
• Maintaining certification (recertification every three years).

Benefits of being an instructor

• Gain a valuable suicide prevention skill set.
• Increase the number of trained QPR Gatekeepers at UBC Okanagan.
• Become a member of the UBC QPR instructor network published on the QPR website.
• Receive updates and training support, including access to a mentor.
• Be a part of a helping community that saves lives.

For more information on becoming an instructor contact Tracey Hawthorn at tracey.hawthorn@ubc.ca

Current QPR Instructors at UBC's Okanagan campus

• Roger Wilson, Health and Wellness
• Tracey Sutton, Health and Wellness
• Leanne Bilodeau, Sustainability Office
• Lindsay Winger, Student Recruitment and Advising
• Alana Jordan, Human Resources
• Roger Bizzotto, Facilities
• Shelley Kayfish, Health Safety and Environment
• Barb James, Barber School
• Kamilla Bahbahani, Equity Office
• Andrea Hinzel, Student Financial Assistance and Awards
• Nora Argueta, Faculty of Management
• Nancy Adams, Student Financial Assistance and Awards
• Amy Fulton, School of Social Work
• Barb Halpenny, Barber School

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Last reviewed 4/18/2012 4:12:49 PM