MHS hosts QPR training

Volunteers from the Crook County Be Well Coalition attended Moorcroft High School last Wednesday morning to conduct QPR classes for students. The group worked with three different classes in the morning session and another four during the afternoon in various rooms provided by the school.

QPR stands for “Question, Persuade and Refer” someone who may be suicidal. QPR is considered an emergency response comparable to CPR and can save lives, according to coalition spokesperson and certified prevention specialist Kathy Cluff.

“We’re hoping,” said Cluff about the reason for the classes, “To give [the students] information and tools and skills they need to ask the question with their friends and to know where to refer them when they or their friends are in trouble.”

The classes take an hour to complete and the students receive proof of completion for participating. They learn how to be alert for the warning signs of suicide, common causes and how to get help.

“The offer’s been on the table for the entire county, not just in the schools, but for every organization and individual,” said Cluff. “The offer was taken by MHS and we’re grateful to be here.”

Cluff had counselors onsite to help any student who needed to speak privately during the day for anyone for whom the subject may be difficult. This issue is already here, says Cluff: “We know we’ve had tragedies in our community and have lost some teens to suicide as well.”

“We’ve been watching the numbers. It has become an epidemic in our culture and it’s a public health issue. They just released the suicide numbers for 2018 and it shows that it has increased from 1999 to 2018 by 35%,” Cluff continued.

She noted that one of the contributing factors for these statistics is that people are disconnected from themselves, families and socially.

However, suicide prevention has been present in the county for about six years using this particular QPR training. The work with MHS has helped the coalition reach many young people with whom they had not previously been able to connect.

“About four years ago, we had the opportunity to do a pilot group and we worked with some student council kids in Sundance, but we just weren’t able to make the arrangements to get it done with students after that so this today is a huge boost in suicide prevention in our county and we’re very excited and grateful that we can be here,” according to Cluff.

Suicide and other mental health issues have an old stigma attached and that fear and shame is a problem itself.

“There is still the myth out there that if we talk about suicide, that will plant the seed,” Cluff says. “That is seriously just a myth. When we have those conversations in the community, we provide resources and it brings it into the light so we can help people. They know help is available and they can talk about it.”

She compared mental health with physical health: “If you had a broken leg, you would go to a doctor and if you’re suffering a mental health crisis, there’s help.”

The coalition, in their effort to saturate the county with the QPR training, has made a goal for themselves that they are well on their way to realizing. They plan to have 500 graduates from the QPR class by the end of June and at the end of February, they have trained approximately 330.

Cluff is continually researching available options to better help those in Crook County to, in turn, get the help they need.

“I am looking at other programs that we can bring into the schools to get ahead of things so we can start with children at an earlier age, teaching about resilience and decision making,” she said.

“Anything we do as the Be Well Coalition will be evidence based, tried and proven and the data is there to support its effectiveness.”

Everyone in Crook County needs to be trained in suicide prevention, according to Cluff. She asks that those seeking help for themselves or a friend contact her at any time at 307-290-0424 or email her at [email protected]. People can also call the Crook County Public Health office at 307-283-1142.

Any of these contacts can also assist those interested in hosting suicide prevention classes or who would like to know what resources are available. The Be Well Coalition also has a FaceBook page with the same name with resources, events and education.

On March 20, the coalition is offering a free “mental health first aid” class at the MTC. This is an eight-hour class with professional credits for completion.