You've heard about CPR, but what about QPR? The latter three letters are making a difference at Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS).
"QPR" stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. The school's PAWS ... and Think Club, in conjunction with Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care (EACTC), has been holding QPR workshops to help students who are struggling with their mental health. "After completing QPR (training), participants can recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope and know how to get help and save a life," said Allison Bridgeman, EACTC assistant director and liaison to PAWS ... and Think.
The training helps fill a need in the Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD), she stated. "We know from the 2019 PA Youth Survey data for Elizabethtown that 30% of EASD sixth-graders and 38% of EASD 12th-graders reported feeling sad or depressed most days in the past year," she explained. "Rising concerns around teen mental health make prevention and education extremely important."
The PAWS ... and Think Club spent the month of March focused on spreading messages of help and hope. In addition to the QPR training, club members shared information about mental health through messages on digital boards throughout the school and on social media. They also distributed 1,300 lollipops to fellow students with four different well-being tips. "The purpose of the awareness month campaign is to encourage students to learn how to get help for their peers or themselves when mental health issues arise and to create a school culture where students feel comfortable asking for help," Bridgeman remarked.
Club members said the topic of mental health is more important than ever this year, when students have seen a disruption in their normal routine. "Talking about mental health and suicide is important because it is such a relevant issue in our society these days," stated Haley Laughlin, PAWS ... and Think vice president. "By informing students, staff and others about how to deal with mental health issues, we are teaching them valuable skills that can help them take better care of themselves for the rest of their lives."
The QPR training is helping students feel empowered to make a difference, said PAWS ... and Think president Jagger Gilleland, adding, "The QPR training is an important step in prevention of suicide and is just as important as training other students in CPR. I feel now I have a much better ability to confront another person and help them through an issue if it were to arise. I hope in the future that more students will attend and have the ability to help friends and those around them."
In addition to the March initiatives, PAWS ... and Think hosts activities and events throughout the school year, encouraging students to make healthy choices. The club advisers are Margie Reed and Christine Dubosky.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Text Line by texting the word "SIGNS" to 741741.
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