Lunchtime Training in Cortez Aims to Save Lives

Suicide rates in the Cortez area are higher than the state average, and while many local residents want to help reduce these numbers, suicide prevention training can be challenging for community members to attend because of work schedules and other commitments. Cortez resident and healthcare worker Trent Woods recognized this challenge and wanted to do something about it. He worked with Southwest Memorial Hospital on a plan to pilot a “lunch and learn” program through the hospital that would offer QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training every other week at a variety of times to build a network of local people skilled in suicide prevention. (Developed at Spokane Mental Health, QPR is a nationally recognized approach to suicide risk reduction.) LOR’s funding will be used to support two training sessions per month as well as to provide educational and suicide awareness materials.