Corrections Professionals have a high degree of contact with those at elevated risk of suicide, especially mentally ill offenders, those arrested for the first time, and those facing sentencing whether in jail or on probation. This interactive, multimedia, two-certificate course teaches both students and working professionals how to mitigate the risk of suicide attempts and completions both in and out of correctional facilities.
Suicide rates for QPR courses are US-specific. To determine suicide rates in your country, please visit the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide_rates/en/ .
As you will see, many of these reports are quite dated. If your country keeps such data but does not necessarily report to WHO, try Googling federal, state, or province name and "suicide rate." If you are teaching suicide prevention courses you will need this data; the more local the data the better. But remember that suicide rates need 5 to 10 year horizons to be of much value as to interpreting any changes in trend lines.
As background to this building this course, the QPR Institute worked with noted law enforcement and corrections professionals to build a training program designed to meet the needs of those working in correctional facilities and who plan a career in corrections. Some key findings from expert consultation and research were these:
As of this writing in 2017, the Institute has trained more than 15,000 Certified Gatekeeper Instructors who have, in turn, trained more than 2.5 million gatekeepers worldwide. In addition, thousands of clinical healthcare providers have been trained in how to detect, assess, and manage suicidal consumers.
If this sounds like an "army" of people helping to prevent suicide, it is. Now, with your help, we will create a new division in that army of educated, trained corrections professionals and people of goodwill to help prevent suicide around the globe.
While expert opinion may differ as to what helper competencies are required to assist suicidal persons achieve the most beneficial outcomes, little controversy exists about the lack of qualified manpower to help the thousands of people who think about, attempt and sometimes die by suicide, including in the world of corrections.
Even among licensed professionals there is a serious lack of systematic training in how to a) detect suicide risk, b) assess immediate risk for suicidal behaviors and c) provide helpful crisis mitigation services to suicidal persons.
The primary mission of the QPR Institute has been to provide technology transfer of evidence-based knowledge into useful skills and helpful interventions for those wishing to assist suicidal persons. To this end, the Institute has developed comprehensive training programs to address the training deficits among clinical providers as outlined in the US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, and to provide customized suicide prevention training to match the service setting and the levels of duty professionals in those settings have for the health safety of those they serve both in the US and abroad.
We believe that crisis volunteers, first responders, emergency services professionals, corrections professionals as well as many others in frequent contact with at risk populations, need to know as much about suicidal behaviors and how to intervene to reduce risk and enhance safety as do trained mental health professionals. To this end, the online program you are about to take is intended to train you in the knowledge and skills you will need to provide competent services in suicide risk detection, initial intervention, how to immediately mitigate the risk of a suicide attempt.
This training is not a substitute for a college degree in counseling or other helping profession, nor can it provide the face-to-face supervised experience those in the helping professions are provided in the course of their professional career development. The program does not teach suicide risk assessment skills. Suicide risk assessment training is provided in other QPR Institute programs.
Modularized in a rich mix of text, video, voice-over PowerPoint™ lectures, interactive practice sessions, and other state-of-the-art interactive and e-learning technologies.
The QPR for Corrections training program provides two certificates. The basic QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention requires 90 minutes to 2 hours of training. The Corrections Certificate in Suicide Prevention requires hours of training and passing a final exam. If the learner passes this national exam, he or she will have demonstrated more knowledge about suicide and its prevention than a large majority of mental health professionals.
By completing all 6 hours of training, volunteers, students, and paid professionals may earn the "Corrections Certificate in Suicide Prevention." The fee is the same for the QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention (shorter program) and the Corrections Certificate in Suicide Prevention (longer program). When both sections are passed, the leaner is awarded the final certificate.
NOTE: If you intend to purchase more than one course, please contact Brian Quinnett (208) 882-6160 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Individual certificate pricing:
Certificate of Course Completion (8 hours) |
Pricing |
Per person |
$89.00 |
10 or more |
$79.00 |
Thank you for helping to prevent suicide.
Our courses should qualify for continuing education for most professions.
Counselors: The QPR Institute is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program.
Nurses: Varies with state or organizational membership.
Physicians: Application for CME pending.
Note: Since many professions have their own continuing education credentialing and certification processes, please submit the course description and required hours to complete to your own accrediting body for approval. Or, we are happy to provide reviewer access to any of these courses to make their own determinations.
Reviewer Access and for questions about CEs: Please contact Brian Quinnett, National Training Coordinator at bquinn@turbonet.com for complimentary review access.