Suicide Prevention & QPR: How CDPH is training our own to respond to the City’s disparity in suicide rates

Suicide is a serious public health issue affecting people of all ages. Suicide and suicide attempts touch the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. And suicide is a difficult topic to discuss - whether you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, know someone who is, or know someone who has lost a loved one. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is taking on suicide prevention by building community, connection, and knowledge. A team of diverse CDPH public health professionals have joined together to become certified Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Instructors through the QPR Institute to provide free in-person and virtual QPR Gatekeeper training in and across Chicago’s communities. On this episode, CDPH’s Director of Mental Health Operations Kathy Calderon, LCPC speaks with QPR instructors Colleen Lilly (Public Health Administrator II) and Tynisha George, MSW/MPH (Coordinating Planner) about suicide prevention and what CDPH is doing to respond to the disparity of suicide across the city’s communities and populations. If you or someone you know are considering suicide, please dial or text 988. Visit CDPH’s Suicide Prevention Initiative page for more resources: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/supp_info/behavioral-health/cdph-suicide-prevention-initiative.html