QPR training can help save a life

Veterans of the Ozarks and Missouri Veterans Suicide Prevention Team invite the community to join them on Monday evening, April 27, for the QPR Suicide Prevention Training. This valuable training is provided quarterly, and is FREE to participants, thanks to funding assistance from the Skaggs Foundation and Neighbors & Friends of Table Rock Lake. 

The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention method is based on learning to watch for signs that may indicate a person is at risk of harming themselves; practicing questions and conversation openers; and becoming familiar with area resources in order to personally encourage someone to take advantage of those resources or even accompany them to do so. 

The need for such awareness and training resonates particularly hard in the Branson area following the death by suicide of a young man whose story was recently shared in the Globe; this young man was known for his own encouraging personality and yet had struggles others in the community either did not know about or weren’t sure how to help him address. Statistics indicate increasing numbers of young people self-reporting anxiety or feelings of isolation, with the actual numbers likely even higher. 

Suicide statistics also remain high, sadly, among veterans who have not been able to adequately process their experiences, particularly if they don’t know about available resources to help. Helping provide this training is part of the larger mission of Veterans of the Ozarks and other area veterans organizations to help connect veterans with resources and fellowship. 

This valuable session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 27 at the Kimberling City Elks Lodge, 37 Beach Blvd. in Kimberling City. Contact Dave McAllister at 417-230-1283 for more information or to sign up; and visit the Veterans of the Ozarks page on Facebook to learn more about fellowship opportunities and upcoming events, including future training dates. 

An evening invested in becoming more familiar with what to watch for, and more comfortable with asking good questions, might be just the tool to help save the life of someone you know.