 QPR or Question Persuade Refer is devoted to reducing suicidal behavior and saving lives by providing suicide prevention training. Panhellenic is sponsoring QPR Training in the Village this Thursday, September 6th at 5pm! To learn more, we asked a member of the Panhellenic community, Haley Kantor about her experience with QPR.  "My experiences with QPR began when I was a freshman at Auburn when my chapter president described QPR and encouraged us to attend a gate keeper training in the student center. Three years ago, this training was not mandatory but as I transitioned into freshman year, surrounded by so many new people and new experiences, I felt that QPR could apply to my life in many ways. This one hour session was very moving and even before I became an official QPR presenter, I found myself spreading the message and encouraging my peers to attend a training session too. QPR provides you with warning signs of suicide, tips for asking questions, and ways for referring to a professional. This training is important for as many people as possible to experience because you never know when you may find yourself needing to apply these skills. Beginning in high school I became very involved with anti-bullying awareness efforts. Coming to college, I wanted to continue a difference in the community in some way by opening conversations and letting people know you are not alone in what you are dealing with. This movement needs both small and big steps to happen. Entering college means very different experiences for each freshman but everyone who joins the Auburn Family should feel important. As the age of technology continues to grow and many college students feel the pressure to hide their true selves behind perfect social media, the need for QPR also continues to grow. According to national statistics: - 24,000 suicide attempts on college campuses occur per year nationwide - 1,100 completed college student suicides occur per year nationwide - Suicide is the second leading cause of death of college students Suicide is often a topic people avoid because it is sensitive and difficult to address. However learning how to open up this conversation can save the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. Just as people are trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver as emergency medical interventions to help save thousands of lives each year, those trained in QPR are prepared for an emergency mental health intervention. Panhellenic members can get more involved with QPR by encouraging their peers to also get trained. After completing a gate keeper training, individuals will learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Having these skill at your fingertips can save a life." “Suicide is our most preventable form of death.” Thanks, Haley! For more information, click here and we'll see you on Thursday.
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