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Finding Hope Assembly for High School and Middle School Students

January 25, 2018

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Jeff Morris, QPR Trainer, paid a visit today to Putnam County Middle and High School students.  Mr. Morris is a former teacher, coach, and principal, who has made hundreds of presentations since he chose to begin speaking to groups around the Midwest.  Jeff presented to three different groups in the auditorium this afternoon, and discussed mental health issues.  He taught students how to help friends and how to respond to friends if they demonstrate extreme depression or if they express suicidal thoughts.  The biggest thing he told students they could do was to listen and to be willing to ask friends questions to demonstrate that they care.  

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.  Our students were attentive, and we appreciate Mr. Morris coming to provide this training!