Owens Community College Faculty & Staff: as trusted mentors and daily points of contact, you may be in the best possible position to prevent a suicide while supporting students during very stressful times in their lives. These might include financial worries, generalized anxiety disorder, and feelings of isolation or loneliness. The state of Ohio has adopted a new training for suicide awareness and prevention. QPR encompasses a one-hour training and consists of three skills:

Question … a person about suicide

Persuade … the person to get help

Refer … the individual to the appropriate resource(s)

QPR training is open to all faculty and staff, and will take place on Tuesday, August 19 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM in College Hall Room 160. This training equips team members with the skills to confidently and compassionately ask difficult questions, persuade students to seek help, and refer them to appropriate mental health resources. By fostering a campus culture of awareness, empathy, and proactive support, QPR training empowers participants to help save lives and contribute to a safer, more supportive academic environment. Participants will earn certificates upon completion of the training.

Trainers for the event will be:

• Vickie Heck, Director, Owens Counseling Services, LPCC-S, CDCA, Mediator, QPR Instructor
• Heather Vincil, Project Specialist, TRIO/Veterans Upward Bound, Ph.D. Behavioral Health, QPR Instructor
• Kelly Garza with Harbor House, LSW, LCDC III, OCPC, QPR Instructor

Special guest Jodi Harding from the Wood County Humane Society will also be bringing shelter dogs to the event. Training is limited to 30 participants. Register for the event at QPR Sign-Up. Sign-ups will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, August 15 to allow an accurate count for coffee and food to be provided.