QPR: Questions, Persuasion, Referrals

Mental health is a serious issue that often goes untreated. A study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that only about one-third of adults with a mental health condition receive treatment each year. This is a staggering statistic, considering that mental health conditions are so common.
One of the reasons why so many people with mental health conditions don’t seek treatment is because they don’t know where to turn. They may be embarrassed to talk about their condition, or they may not know that there are resources available to help them.
QPR is a suicide prevention training program that teaches people how to recognize the signs of suicide, how to persuade someone to get help, and how to refer them to the appropriate resources. QPR is an acronym for Question, Persuade, Refer.
Question: The first step in QPR is to ask the person directly if they are thinking about suicide. This can be a difficult question to ask, but it is important to do so. If the person is thinking about suicide, they need to know that there are people who care about them and want to help.
Persuade: Once you have asked the person the question, it is important to persuade them to get help. This can be done by talking to them about the reasons why they are thinking about suicide and by offering them hope. Remind them that there are people who love them and care about them. Let them know that there are resources available to help them get through this tough time.
Refer: Once you have persuaded the person to get help, it is important to refer them to the appropriate resources. This could include a mental health professional, a crisis hotline, or a suicide prevention website.
QPR is a valuable tool that can help to save lives. If you are concerned about someone who may be thinking about suicide, please consider getting trained in QPR. You could make a difference in their life.
Here are some additional tips for talking to someone who is thinking about suicide:

Be patient and understanding.
Listen to them without judgment.
Let them know that you care about them.
Offer them hope.
Persuade them to get help.
Refer them to the appropriate resources.

If you are thinking about suicide, please know that there are people who care about you and want to help. Please reach out to someone for help. There are resources available to help you get through this tough time.