The effectiveness of QPR suicide prevention training

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) gatekeeper suicide prevention training on individuals’ ability to recognise the warning signs of suicide, intention to question someone they think is suicidal, persuade the suicidal person to stay alive, and know how and where to get help for the person. We also examined whether QPR training increased an individual’s intention to intervene with a suicidal individual. Design: A pretest–posttest online survey, based on the theory of planned behaviour, was employed before and after the face-to-face QPR training. Setting: The study was conducted on a small regional college campus in the Midwest USA. Method: Faculty, staff, and students at a regional campus completed two online questionnaires (pretest, n = 108, and posttest, n = 79) answering questions about attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control regarding suicide intervention, as well as their intention to intervene with someone who was suicidal. They also completed a 1-hour QPR gatekeeper training event. Results: QPR training significantly improved attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control regarding suicide intervention, and intention to intervene. It was also effective at increasing intention to question, persuade and refer (the three core goals of QPR). Conclusions: QPR training has been shown to be effective in the short-term at increasing intention to intervene within a US college community.

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“…For patients in a mental health crisis, it is crucial that behavioral health employees, including non-clinicians, be adept in recognizing, assessing, and intervening to address suicide risk. To equip entry-level direct care employees with these critical skills, a limited number of research-informed trainings have been developed and validated, including Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) [ 115 ]; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) [ 116 ]; and Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) for direct care staff [ 117 ]. These trainings have demonstrated effectiveness in improving staff members’ abilities to recognize suicide warning signs, evaluate suicide risk, engage at-risk individuals in treatment, and produce clinical outcomes, such as increased felt hope and decreased suicidality in care recipients [ 115 , 116 ].…”

“…To equip entry-level direct care employees with these critical skills, a limited number of research-informed trainings have been developed and validated, including Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) [ 115 ]; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) [ 116 ]; and Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) for direct care staff [ 117 ]. These trainings have demonstrated effectiveness in improving staff members’ abilities to recognize suicide warning signs, evaluate suicide risk, engage at-risk individuals in treatment, and produce clinical outcomes, such as increased felt hope and decreased suicidality in care recipients [ 115 , 116 ]. Although the cost of these trainings for a single employee is minimal, the cumulative cost across a behavioral healthcare agency can present a significant barrier to necessary staff training.…”

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“…Potentially useful additions included the ability to individualise the interaction, to have a diary and to specifically ask about suicidal intent. Initially many feared that the discussion of suicidal ideation might encourage such behaviours, but the research consistently shows that it is important to ask this question in an open way with ‘Question, Persuade and Refer’ being a well acknowledged approach (Aldrich et al, 2018 ).…”

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“…The athletic trainer plays a vital role in educational programming for athletes, coaches, and parents. Examples of suicide prevention strategies are life skills; Question, Persuade, and Refer 60,61 ; and resilience training.…”