Franciscan Health hospitals in Northwest Indiana and Chicago’s South Suburbs are hosting suicide prevention courses in April and May.
The entry level “question, persuade and refer” or QPR Suicide Prevention Courses are based on curriculum developed by the QPR Institute, which aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one suicide taking place every 11 minutes. The suicide rate reached its highest point since 1941 in 2022, with nearly 50,000 Americans taking their own lives.
In Illinois, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. For young Illinois adults aged 15-34, suicide is the third leading cause of death.
According to the QPR Institute, just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields is hosting a course from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central on May 20 in the auditorium at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields at 20201 S. Crawford Ave. Attendees should enter through the main entrance. The course is free, but registration is required. Contact Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Director Danielle Crowder at [email protected] to register.