Suicide prevention training to help reach those at risk

A suicide prevention programme, that provides the skills to help identify people at risk of taking their own lives and persuade them to seek assistance, takes place in Cork later this month.

The one-day QPR — Question, Persuade and Refer programme — originated in the US.

It is being held in University College Cork on Apr 23 and is being organised by the national suicide prevention and bereavement programme Console.

Two other training days will be held in NUI Galway on Tuesday Apr 16 and University College Dublin on Tuesday May 21.

The programme is aimed at ‘gate-keepers’ — people who are in a position to recognise the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

These include parents, friends, neighbours, teachers, doctors, nurses, priests, work colleagues, gardaí, and caseworkers.

“We are responding to a need,” explained Console’s director of services Ciaran Austin, who said Cork was above the national average for suicide. In Cork the suicide rate is 15.2 compared to the national average of 11.6 per 100,000 people.

In a table of 26 EU countries, Ireland as a whole had the fourth-highest suicide rate for young people aged 15-24, said Mr Austin.

“This programme shows people how to broach the topic with someone they’re worried about.

“It equips people with the tools to deal with their own fear of approaching the situation, or their denial about there even being a problem,” he said, adding that the QPR programme also addresses the frustration and anger people may experience in the face of repeated suicide attempts by a family member.

“It gives the cues or warning signs to look out for, such as overt references to suicide or covert indications such as someone saying that ‘you’ll be sorry’ for the way you treated them.

“The programme gives you different approaches and the wording that is most appropriate for a situation.

“It explains about how to persuade the person to get help. It deals with listening skills and empathy, as well as providing a lot of practical help in dealing with the issue and where to refer people to for help,” he said.

“Suicide is really something communities must take responsibility for and affect change. Strategies, funding and services are very important but we must not lose sight of the fact that family, friends, neighbours, and communities can really affect change and make a difference to people in crisis and hopefully prevent suicide,” he said.

Console founder and CEO Paul Kelly added: “Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognise the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.”

The course costs €75 and runs from 10am to 4.30pm. Visit www.console.ie or call Console on 01 610 2638.

Console offers counselling and 24-hour helpline support to people in crisis or bereaved by suicide.

* Console can be reached any time on 1800 201 890.