988
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
QPR
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is a suicide-prevention training designed to educate people from all walks of life how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. QPR training helps people get comfortable asking the question "Are you thinking about suicide?" and then helping others get appropriate help.
QPR training can be delivered in about one hour and is designed for all “gatekeepers." A gatekeeper, according to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2001), is anyone who is in a position to recognize when someone is in a crisis and may be contemplating suicide. QPR does not require participants to become crisis counselors but will increase their understanding of resources.
Your EAP can provide free QPR trainings for groups of 25 or less. Free individual training also is available. Please contact us at eaphelp@uiowa.edu.
For more information, see suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 988.
Additional Resources:
- CommUnity
- Duke University
- Mayo Clinic:
- Suicide Survivors Face Grief, Questions, Challenges (Harvard Health Publications)
- Suicide Survivors
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Warning Signs of Suicide (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Resources for Bereaved Parents
- Speaking of Suicide (Helping the Suicidal Person)
- Suicidal Adolescent Family Empowerment (SAFE) Program (University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital)
- A White Paper for HR Professionals and Employment Lawyers - Workplace Suicide Prevention
For more resources and handouts, please contact EAP at 319-335-2085 or eaphelp@uiowa.edu.