By Mackenzie Byerlee, Draven Dabrowski, Aminata Diakite, Rachel Rose, Valentina Toro and Catherine Vu
When college students think about mental health resources, they might picture counseling centers, crisis lines or therapy appointments. But one of the most powerful tools against suicide might not be found in a clinic— it might start with a simple three-step conversation.
College campuses throughout Connecticut are training students themselves to recognize warning signs, ask direct questions and connect someone in crisis to professional help. The training — called Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) — aims to give students the confidence to be part of the statewide response to increased suicide rates.
“You don’t have to be a counselor or therapist to help someone,” said Erin Duff, wellbeing specialist, who leads the QPR training at Southern Connecticut State University. “You just have to be willing to pay attention and step in when something feels off.”
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