On September 22nd South Winneshiek students in grades 7-12 will be attending a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training during the school day. At 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium an additional training session will be held for all community members.
Question, Persuade, and Refer is a 2 hour suicide intervention training. Attendees learn how to ask the suicide Question, how to Persuade people to seek help, and how to Refer them for help. Each attendee will take home the QPR booklet for future reference on how to assist anyone that is struggling.
Ryan Nesbit, the presenter, has taught this course around 75 times. He lives in Jesup with his wife and 14, 13, and 10 year old children. He has been a high school youth group leader for 12 years between Ankeny and Jesup. Ryan is Co-Director of Alive & Running Iowa for Suicide Awareness & Prevention. This non-profit works to stop suicide and support those who have lost someone to suicide. Ryan lost his best friend to suicide at age 15. Ryan openly talks in presentations about his own suicide loss and his own struggles with suicidal ideations during high school.
Any questions please contact School Counselors Mary Kleve (563-532-9365) or Connie Euans (563-562-3226).