Montana Technological University is hosting a suicide prevention training Tuesday, Oct. 13, in response to growing concerns about suicide in the community.
The initiative, led by student Brooke Badovinac in partnership with mental health advocate Jim O’Neill, aims to raise awareness and equip students, faculty, staff and community members with tools to help people experiencing a mental health crisis.
The first training session will focus on QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. The evidence-based program teaches participants how to recognize warning signs of suicide, ask someone about their feelings, encourage them to seek help and connect them with appropriate services.
The one-hour training will begin at 5 p.m. in Engineering Laboratory and Classroom Building Room 225. Trainers from across Montana will lead the session.
The initiative also includes training on adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, which explores how potentially traumatic events during childhood can affect health and well-being later in life. A date and time for that session will be announced at a future date.
Organizers encourage students, athletes, faculty, staff and community members to participate.