Fallon Deatherage
News Editor
The ISU Counseling and Testing Services is offering Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training to give ISU staff, faculty, and students the tools they need to prevent suicide.
Idaho ranks 5th highest in the nation for suicide deaths. It’s estimated that there are 25 attempts for every suicide, meaning that the reported rates may not be accurately indicative of the problem.
“The goal here is not to turn people into counselors,” said Matt Ashton, a psychologist from the counseling and testing center. “QPR is like CPR. It doesn’t turn you into a medical professional, but it does give you the ability to save someone until you can get them medical help.”
According to the ISU Counseling and Testing services, 41 percent of ISU students have had thoughts of suicide. The national average is 33 percent. In the United States, it’s estimated that there is one suicide every two hours for people between the ages of 15-24. In 2015, there were 121 reported suicide deaths a day, totaling 44,193 deaths for the entire year.
“They are sobering numbers,” Ashton said.
“But we believe in the power you have.”
QPR is a three-step technique to prevent suicide. The training gives individuals the tools to be gatekeepers, people in a position to recognize signs and take action to help. The Counseling and Testing Center would like to train as many people as possible.
“Everyone needs this training,” Ashton said. “Because statistically, in one way or another, suicide affects us all. Hope is the key ingredient.”
QPR promotes open communication in order to prevent suicide and ensure that individuals receive the help they need.
“It’s about taking the time to care about someone,” Ashton said. “We know that when people get help they get better.”
Most individuals that attempt suicide exhibit warning signs in the weeks prior. QPR seeks to train people to recognize these warning signs and intervene. Because asking someone about suicidal thoughts is culturally taboo, the class instructs how to constructively ask the question.
“Saying it out loud feels strange,” Ashton said. “But it’s important to be prepared.”
In addition to QPR training, there are a number of services on campus that can help students. The Counseling and Testing Center offers free counseling and biofeedback services to students with professionals trained to prevent suicide. Anyone unsure of how to help an individual can report their concerns to student affairs, who have people trained to provide help.
“We follow up on every report in order to provide students with the help they need,” said Sheryl Yee, Student Support and Outreach Specialist. “It’s not just suicide prevention. We have the tools to help with any number of things from financial problems to just trouble adjusting to campus life.”
Even with campus resources, it’s important that individuals are trained in QPR.
“We in the counseling center only get to see the students that come in,” Ashton said. “We need gatekeepers out in the world to find the people that need help.”
Student, faculty or staff interested in receiving QPR training can contact Counseling and Testing Services.
