My message this morning isn’t very complicated… in fact it is surprisingly simple. When I say reach out, I am not only encouraging people going through troubles and hard times to reach out. I am URGING everyone to look left and right and REACH OUT to the people they suspect are struggling. Research is showing that you can make a difference by asking them if they have been thinking about suicide.
Tips for Asking THE QUESTION (From QPR training):
1. If in doubt, don’t wait. Ask “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
2. If the person is reluctant, be persistent.
3. try to talk to the person in a private setting.
4. allow the person to talk freely, do not interrupt or offer fixes.
5. give yourself plenty of time.
6. have resources handy. I AM ONE OF THEM.
