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In April and May, Franciscan Health hospitals in Northwest Indiana and Chicago’s South Suburbs are offering suicide prevention courses. These courses aim to help save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing practical and proven training.
The entry-level “question, persuade and refer” (QPR) Suicide Prevention Courses are based on curriculum developed by the QPR Institute. The Institute aims to provide innovative training to help prevent suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with one occurring every 11 minutes. The suicide rate in 2022 reached its highest point since 1941, with nearly 50,000 Americans taking their own lives.
In Illinois, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, resulting in over 1,000 deaths each year. For young Illinois adults aged 15-34, suicide is the third leading cause of death. The QPR Institute compares the importance of QPR training to CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver training – just as those help save lives, QPR training teaches individuals to recognize warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to intervene by questioning, persuading, and referring someone to help.
One of the courses is being hosted at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields on May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central time. It will take place in the auditorium at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, located at 20201 S. Crawford Ave. Those interested in attending should enter through the main entrance
