On Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Southern Utah University’s Health and Wellness Center will host its first Question, Persuade and Refer training session of the semester. Students, staff and faculty are invited to learn suicide prevention over queso and snacks.
People trained in QPR learn to recognize the warning signs of a suicidal crisis and how to help those in need. Two trainers will be present at the meeting to demonstrate their knowledge on the subject. Soon distinctive signs will be placed on the doors of trained employees to guide individuals towards help.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn skills to help other people, and it’s a short amount of time for a nice payoff,” said Assistant Director of the Health and Wellness Center Madison McBride.
Happening throughout the spring semester on the last Tuesday of each month, SUU Health and Wellness will host these suicide prevention trainings in room 144 of the Sharwam Smith Student Center.
A flyer on SUU’s event calendar lists the dates for upcoming sessions. The next two trainings are Tuesday, Feb. 25, QPR and Charcuterie, and Tuesday, March 25, QPR Lunch & Learn: Jimmy John’s.
McBride invites anyone to attend and is ready to change her schedule to make this opportunity available to everyone.
“Come talk to me. I would love to find a time that would work for more students or faculty or staff,” she said.
Beyond QPR training, SUU Health & Wellness Center enhances students’ health and well-being through comprehensive programming, peer support and preventive education. The center contains a wellness room offering privacy, counseling and psychological services and a self-care station with light therapy lamps, menstrual products, condoms and more.
Further resources available at SUU include the Students Outreach Center, CAPS and Timely Care, an online counseling service for students. By combining these resources, SUU hopes to provide all the support its students, staff, and employees need.
The suicide crisis lifeline is 988 and open 24 hours a day.
For anyone wishing to find out more about Health and Wellness, their website is available.
Author: Fanny Felixine
Editor: Heather Turner
Photo courtesy of SUU
life@suunews.net
