Franciscan Health hospitals in Northwest Indiana and Chicago’s South Suburbs are hosting suicide prevention courses in April and May.

The entry level question, persuade and refer or QPR Suicide Prevention Courses are based on curriculum developed by the QPR Institute, which aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one suicide taking place every 11 minutes. The suicide rate reached its highest point since 1941 in 2022, with nearly 50,000 Americans taking their own lives.

Indiana Department of Health reports 1,136 suicides occurred in Indiana in 2022 with Lake County having the second highest number of suicides in the state. In Illinois, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. For young Illinois adults aged 15-34, suicide is the third leading cause of death.

According to the QPR Institute, 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.

Franciscan Health Michigan City is hosting a course from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central on Tuesday, April 30 at Franciscan Health Michigan City’s Homer Street Legacy Campus at 301 W. Homer St. in Michigan City. The course is free, but registration is required. Please contact Community Health Improvement Coordinator Nila Williams at Nila.Williams@franciscanalliance.org to register.

Franciscan Health Olympia Fields is hosting a course from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central on May 20 in the auditorium at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields at 20201 S. Crawford Ave. Attendees should enter through the main entrance. The course is free, but registration is required. Please contact Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Director Danielle Crowder at Danielle.Crowder@franciscanalliance.org to register.

The Franciscan Health Main St. Outpatient Center is hosting a course from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central on May 23 in the Marian Education Center’s Bonzel Suite at 1201 S. Main St. in Crown Point. The course is free, but registration is required. Please contact Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Coordinator Stacy Zembala at Stacy.Zembala@franciscanalliance.org to register.