Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Offers QPR Suicide Prevention Classes
Note: Beginning in July 2022 in the United States, you can call or text 988, the three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The former Lifeline phone number (800-273-8255) will also remain available to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
Ukiah, CA 2019 – QPR - Question, Persuade, Refer, a national evidence-based suicide prevention program is being offered to community members and partner organizations at no cost through Adventist Health Ukiah Valley (AHUV). This program, similar to CPR teaches emergency responders to save someone in crisis including identifying warning signs and persuasion techniques that could save someone’s life.
Marvel Harrison, PhD is leading the charge on training as many individuals as possible throughout the County and surrounding areas. “Suicide is preventable. With three straightforward steps, anyone can learn to help prevent suicide by learning what to listen for, what to say, what questions to ask and what the answers to the questions mean to help determine risk and the next steps to take to ensure a person’s safety.” Comments Marvel, “There truly is safety in numbers. The more people we get trained in QPR, the more deaths by suicide we can prevent. It takes what Mendocino County has for each other, courage, compassion and commitment."
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States which is why programs such as QPR are so important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 47,000 people die each year from suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24, but it affects all age groups, including middle aged and older adults. The most recent statistics show that every 11 and a half minutes an American life is lost to suicide, with more Americans now dying by suicide than car accidents. Adding to those staggering numbers, there are an estimated 25 attempted suicides for every suicide death. Mendocino County, like most rural areas of America, suffers more than double the rate of deaths by suicide than the rest of the state.*
“Research has shown that a person often turns to friends, family members or a co-worker to talk about their problems before they reach out to a hotline or professional in the area. By training as many community members as possible, we will be able to put far more people on the front line of suicide prevention. We are excited to partner with additional community organizations so together, we can bring this training to many venues, including schools and workplaces,” shares Adventist Health Ukiah Valley President, Jason Wells.
QPR classes are scheduled for March 1st noon-1:30pm, March 13th 6:30pm-8pm and March 14th 3:00pm-4:30pm. These classes require registration and are free of charge. If you or someone you know is interested in attending or would like more information, please call Randy Maddox at 467-5292, follow the event on Facebook at Adventist Health (Ukiah Valley) or email maddoxr@ah.org. This training is presented in collaboration with our community partners, Soroptimist International of Ukiah and Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency Public Health Branch.
If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis call the Access line at (800) 555-5906 or for texting support, Text "EMM" to 741741 for twenty-four-hour crisis support.
Suicide is preventable. When you learn QPR, you plant the seeds of hope. Hope helps prevent suicide.
http://www.healthymendocino.org
Photo (left to right): Loretta Tognoli, Rebecca Craig, Barbara Howe, Randy Maddox, Willow Anderson
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Adventist Health is a faith-based, non-profit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii. Its compassionate and talented team of 33,300 includes more than 24,600 employees; 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 3,700 volunteers working together in pursuit of one mission: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in 19 hospitals, more than 280 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 13 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. Through its nonprofit public benefit corporation Adventist Health accommodates the unique needs of organizations that want to affiliate. Together, its team is inspired to transform the health experience of our communities, with its unique focus on physical, mental, spiritual and social healing. For more information, visit www.adventisthealth.org.
