QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is an evidence-based suicide prevention training designed for people with no clinical background. It teaches people how to recognize warning signs of suicide, ask someone directly if they’re thinking about suicide, offer support, and connect them to help. Just like CPR, QPR is a simple, effective way anyone can learn to respond to a mental health crisis and potentially save a life. This session will take place in-person at RCLS.

Jessica Perk-Alvarez, LMSW, is the Clinical Process Improvement Coordinator at Access: Supports for Living. She also leads the agency’s suicide prevention efforts, coordinating a cross-departmental team to improve risk screening, develop trainings, and use data to better identify and support at-risk individuals. Before joining Access, Jessica worked at the New York State Office for the Aging and Department of Health, supporting long-term care services through the Balancing Incentive Program. She has researched suicide prevention among Veterans through the Joseph Dwyer Peer Support Program. Jessica holds a Master’s in Social Work from SUNY Albany with a focus on aging and a certificate in Human Services Management.

This session is open to library workers and trustees within the Ramapo Catskill Library System only. This session will count for 1 continuing education credit hour for staff. This session will not count for trustee education. This is an in-person workshop taking place at RCLS, 619 Route 17M, Middletown, NY and will not be recorded. Click here to access the RCLS Code of Conduct.