September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about ways to prevent suicide, shift public perception, and spread hope. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24, and the 12th leading cause of death overall. Adults 18+ are invited to attend a free training where they can learn three simple steps to help save lives from suicide.
In an effort to reduce deaths by suicide and provide hope for those in mental health crisis in our community; Regional Health Services of Howard County, area churches, and Howard County’s Prevention 5 Coalition are hosting a QPR suicide prevention course on Thursday, September 26, at Cresco United Methodist Church at 6:30. This course is free to the public thanks to the support of those organizations and the Step Up Reach Out – Suicide Awareness Walk. Registration is required, and people can register by visiting https://tinyurl.com/QPRCrescoSept2024, or by contacting brecka.putnam@rhshc.com or 563-547-6343.
“Just as people who are trained in CPR can help save thousands of lives from heart attack related deaths each year, people trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) can help save the lives of their family members, friends, and neighbors from dying by suicide,” said QPR Instructor, Brecka Putnam. “The more people who take this class, the more lives that can be saved.”
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or considering suicide, you are not alone. Please call or text 988 for help.