In response to a recent uptick in suicide deaths in Daviess County, RiverValley Behavioral Health will host a free QPR Suicide Prevention Training for the community on Thursday, May 30, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at The Gathering Pointe, located at 400 East 4 Street in Owensboro.
QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, is an evidence-based suicide prevention training designed to teach participants how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond effectively. Similar to
CPR, QPR is a lifesaving intervention that can be administered by anyone in the community.
“As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial that we empower our community with the tools to help save lives,” said Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta, President & CEO of RiverValley Behavioral Health. “With the recent increase in local suicide deaths, this training could not come at a more important time.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming over 49,000 lives in 2023 alone. In Kentucky, the suicide rate is consistently higher than the national average, with more than 800 Kentuckians dying by suicide each year.
Recent suicide deaths in our community show the urgent need for community-wide education and prevention strategies.
The QPR training on May 30 is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in participating in the May 30th training can pre-register in advance at https://forms.office.com/r/MytjrHLTyL.
RiverValley Behavioral Health provides a range of additional mental health education programs aimed at reducing stigma and preventing suicide. All trainings are open to the public, and organizations or community groups interested in hosting or participating in an upcoming training can visit rvbh.com/training for more information.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for 24/7 confidential support.
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