Suicide prevention starts with us, all of us

Suicide affects families, friends, coworkers, and communities. Knowing how to recognize warning signs and respond with compassion can help save a life.

That’s why Intermountain Health has prioritized suicide prevention training for decades. Through the Community Health Needs Assessment, behavioral health and suicide prevention are identified as significant health needs across Intermountain’s footprint.

In April, community health program manager Shari Charron offered a specific type of suicide prevention training called Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) in Miles City, Montana.

QPR is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training led by certified instructors that teaches you how to recognize warning signs, ask direct, supportive questions, and connect someone to the right help.

Why this matters

After the training, one participant shared their story with Shari. Their family found their foster daughter unresponsive in her bedroom, later learning she had attempted to take her life for the first time.

“Suicide was something I was largely shielded from growing up,” this participant said. “There are not enough resources that are both bold and sensitive in addressing suicide. I learned so much in your class. You are stepping into a difficult space, and I was truly impressed with the balance of empathy, compassion, truth, and facts you provided. You created a sense of dignity and support for everyone impacted by suicide.”

Thankfully this participant’s daughter is now doing better with family support and treatment; she is learning new skills to improve her mental and physical health.

Real skills. Real confidence.

The training doesn't just build awareness. It helps people feel more prepared to act when someone needs help. Caregiver and community member participants in the QPR training at four different settings reported a:

• 44% increase in knowing what to say if someone shares suicidal thoughts
• 46% increase in knowledge of warning signs and risk factors
• 60% increase in knowledge of how to locate help, including local resources and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• 54% increase in knowing that asking someone about suicide will not increase their risk

Training options for any audience

Intermountain offers a range of suicide prevention and mental health trainings designed for different audiences.

These include:

• Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
  • A training focused on helping clinicians and patient-facing caregivers discuss access to lethal means with individuals at risk for suicide.
  • Teaches how to create safety plans and reduce access to items that could be used in a suicide attempt.
• Ask, Listen, Refer
  • A training program intended as a broad, community-focused suicide prevention training that emphasizes recognizing concerns, listening effectively, and connecting people with appropriate support.
• Mental Health First Aid
  • A more intensive training, typically delivered over approximately eight hours, often geared toward educators, caregivers, and others who regularly interact with people in need of support.
• Vital Cognition
  • A training program tailored for athletes and the volunteers and professionals who support them, such as coaches, athletic trainers, counselors, and psychologists.

“The common goal of all of these trainings is to increase knowledge, reduce stigma, and help people feel prepared to support someone who may be struggling,” said Jordan Merrill, community health program manager.

In 2025 alone, the Community Health team trained more than 65,000 people through more than 13,880 training sessions, demonstrating significant reach and impact.

Every conversation can make a difference. By giving people the tools and confidence to act, these trainings help create safer, more connected communities where no one has to face a mental health crisis alone.

Resources

To schedule a training for you or your organization, please contact Jordan Merrill.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or need emotional support, call or text 988, or chat at https://988lifeline.org/