Suicide prevention training available to employees
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2022) — University of Kentucky Human Resources, in collaboration with UK HealthCare's Healthy Kentucky Initiative, is offering a free online training to help employees who know someone affected by mental illness become a mental health champion and learn how to save a life through a research-backed suicide prevention training program.
Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) online training teaches the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. All staff interested in learning the QPR technique for preventing suicide are invited to take the training. Register for and learn more about the new QPR online training here. UK departments can also request a live QPR training here for their unit.
“QPR suicide prevention training gives participants the education which empowers them to make a positive difference in the life of another individual,” said Ann Bassoni, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist with UK Human Resources. “The program teaches individuals to ask the most difficult question most hope they never have to ask, ‘Are you thinking of killing yourself?’”
UK HR has a full range of mental and emotional health resources for employees including short-term individual counseling, health coaching, workshops and on demand content like the '"Becoming Wildly Resilient" podcast.
“The addition of QPR training is one example of our ongoing effort to take care of our people,” said Jody Ensman, UK HR well-being director. “Mental and emotional health are critical to one’s overall well-being. We want our employees to know we are here for them when they need it, and we’re ready to meet them where they are on their unique well-being journey.”
If you or someone you know is currently in distress, immediately contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (call, text or chat) or 800-273-TALK (8255) to be routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center. For non-crisis emotional and coping support, please call the NAMI Lexington WarmLine at 877-840-5167 (1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 5-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday).
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.