QPR Suicide Prevention Training Courses

The QPR for Chemical Dependency Providers training program provides 3+ hours of training to meet the requirements of emerging state licensing laws. Learners may opt to complete more modules, but a minimum of three hours is required to complete the course.

Given the time constraints many CDPs are under to complete new training, this course is modularized into many brief learning sections, each of which can be completed in a few minutes to slightly over 40 minutes. The course is self-paced and open for a full year so that learners can log in and out of the course to complete modules as time is available.

Major Breakdowns

In addition to basic QPR training and screening for suicide risk, the course includes a review lecture on substance abuse and suicide, the Preventing Addiction Related Suicide (PARS) program (an evidence-based group-focused intervention), and the best-practice registered training in Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM). Also included are basic helping skills for assisting suicidal patients and how to communicate effectively with those who have attempted suicide and those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

A series of four foundation lectures are offered in this course, but the student may wish to view only the 1st in the series, as the other three are optional. However, if the learner completes the foundation knowledge lecture series and passes the final knowledge exam for the series at 80% correct, the QPR for Chemical Dependency Provider Certificate in Suicide Prevention is awarded. This exam is a nationally-normed clinical knowledge exam which the majority of mental health and health professionals fail without specific training. It is up to the learner to decide to spend the extra time. We think it is worth it.

For learners interested in advanced training in how to conduct a suicide risk assessment, formulate and document assessed risk, and manage risk over time please see the QPRT or QPR Suicide Triage training programs. Both programs include the foundation lectures included in this course.

Organizational Training

This training program focuses on the development of individual learner knowledge and skills. The QPR Institute offers a comprehensive, integrated systems approach to suicide risk reduction for all levels of organizational structure, staff, faculty, students or consumers. Patient safety is the primary mission. Please visit our home web page for more information and/or send us an inquiry.

From the 3-hour basic training, participants should be able to:

• Understand suicide as a major public health problem
• Understand the common myths and facts surrounding suicide
• Know how to inquire about suicidal intent and desire
• Know how to inquire about capacity for suicide and self injurious behavior
• Recognize at least three suicide warning signs
• Recognize at least three risk factors for suicide
• Recognize at least three protective factors against suicide
• Demonstrate increased knowledge, skills, self-efficacy and intent to act to intervene with suicidal people and patients
• Identify unique verbal, behavioral, and situational suicide warning signs
• Know how to engage and assist a suicidal colleague or co-worker
• Conduct an initial screening interview to detect suicide risk and refer the person to care
• Describe acute referral issues and how to implement a competent referral
• Describe and be able to implement the Preventing Addiction Related Suicide Program (PARS)
• Discuss the relationship of suicide to substance abuse and key risk factors in addictions
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with someone who has attempted suicide
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with the loved ones or family members of someone who has died by suicide
• Describe "means restriction" and identify individual characteristics and environmental features that may increase or decrease the risk for suicide
• Know what crisis materials, phone numbers, and family information to provide when the patient leaves the hospital or point of care site

From the 6-hour certificate program, participants should be able to:

• Describe the US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• Understand the nature of suicide and describe at least one theory of suicidal behavior
• Describe and locate major suicide prevention web sites and online resources
• Demonstrate increased knowledge about suicide and its causes
• Describe clinical groups at high risk for suicide
• Describe the relationship of mental illness and substance abuse to suicide and understand the fundamentals of our current knowledge about suicide and its prevention
• Discuss and describe limitations in suicide risk assessment
• Pass a nationally standardized exam demonstrating fundamental knowledge about suicide, its causes, and the current status of suicide prevention in America