Training from County Health Department, Draper City teaches the QPR method of suicide prevention
Feb 27, 2026 05:38PM ● By Mimi Darley Dutton
“Suicide is the most preventable kind of death and almost any positive action may save a life,” said Alyssa Burnham of Salt Lake County Health Department. Burnham (R) and colleague Jen Osborne hosted a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention information session in conjunction with Draper City. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
Draper City’s Wellness initiative hosted a class with Salt Lake County focused on teaching the Question Persuade Refer (QPR) method in an effort to prevent suicide. County Health Educator Alyssa Burnham was the main presenter. She was joined by colleague Jen Osborne and Sergeant Mike Todd of the Draper Police Department. Todd facilitated a giveaway of gun safes because firearms are the leading means of suicide.
"Eighty-six percent of firearm deaths in Utah are suicide. It’s more likely your firearm is going to be used in a suicide situation than a home protection situation,” Burnham said. Noting suicide crises are often brief, Burnham said if a gun owner recognizes they’re personally at risk, she suggests asking someone to hold onto your firearm or putting the key to your gun safe in a cup of water and freezing it. “It’s like holding onto someone’s keys if they’ve been drinking,” she said. Todd said if you have no other means of safe firearm storage, the Police Department can do a “safe keep,” but it requires paperwork and the firearm stays with the police for a period of time.
Burnham explained QPR training is not counseling or treatment, instead it familiarizes people with suicide warning signs and teaches people to listen and connect at-risk individuals to help.
Draper Police Sergeant Mike Todd facilitated a gun safe giveaway at the suicide prevention training. Studies show putting time and distance between firearms and someone thinking about suicide is of utmost importance. Rates of suicide are higher in Utah partly because of higher levels of gun ownership. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
“You already have a community of people who care,” she said.
The state’s statistics are staggering. Utah ranks seventh in the nation for suicides and fifth for youth suicide deaths. Suicide is the sixth leading cause of death in Utah and the second leading cause for ages 10-17. Utah is in a region with higher rates of suicide partially because of higher levels of gun ownership. “There are more guns for people to use,” Burnham said. Rurality can be a factor with less access to behavioral healthcare and less connection to community. Asked if altitude is a factor, Burnham said she has not seen concrete evidence to support that. “Religion can go either way. It can protect some, but for others, if you aren’t accepted by the predominant culture of your family or neighborhood, that can be a risk factor,” she said.
“The biggest risk factors are feeling like a burden to others or feeling alone. The biggest protective factors against suicide are a sense of community and feeling like you have a purpose in life,” Burnham said.
Language surrounding suicide has evolved. It’s not appropriate to say “committed suicide,” but instead “died by suicide” or “lost their life to suicide.” Rather than saying someone is “suicidal,” say “is thinking of suicide” or “has suicidal thoughts.” Rather than saying someone is schizophrenic, mentally ill or an addict, instead say living with schizophrenia, people with mental illness, or people addicted to substances. “There’s way more to a person than their diagnosis or what they’re going through, and those labels can be stigmatizing,” Burnham said.
There are usually clues and warning signs given by a person considering suicide. Verbal clues include phrases like “I wish I were dead” or “I just can’t go on.” Behavioral clues include acquiring a gun or stockpiling pills, putting personal affairs in order, aggression and irritability, or engaging in more risk-taking behavior. Situational clues include being fired from a job or expelled from school, loss of any major relationship, diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness, anticipated loss of financial security, or chronic pain.
“Often, they start giving away their stuff. That should be a big clue,” Todd said.
One of the biggest myths about suicide is talking about it will make a person angry or increase their risk. “Asking them about it isn’t going to make them do it. Instead, asking someone lowers anxiety and lowers the risk of a suicide attempt,” Burnham said.
Three steps of QPR: Question, Persuade and Refer
Question:
Do: If in doubt, don’t wait! Talk to the person in a private setting, allow them to speak freely, and make sure you have time for the conversation and resource information handy. How you ask the question is less important than that you ask it, particularly if you’re asking in a way that shows you care. A direct approach would be, “I’m worried about you. I wonder if you’re thinking about suicide?” A less direct approach would be “Do you ever wish you could go to sleep and never wake up?” or “Have you been so unhappy lately that you’re thinking about ending your life?” Often the response is something like, “No, I’m not, but thank you for caring.” If you cannot ask the question, find someone who can. Practice asking the question so you’re prepared when it’s necessary.
Don’t: Ask in a judgmental or shaming way such as “You’re not thinking about killing yourself, are you?” or “You wouldn’t do anything stupid, would you?”
Persuade:
Do: Persuade the person to stay alive by listening to the problem and giving them your full attention, then ask “Will you go with me to get help?” “Will you let me help you get help?” or “What can we do to keep you safe for now?”
Don’t: Rush to judgement or try to solve the problem. “Sitting and talking and not rushing to judgement can be powerful,” Burnham said.
Refer:
People living with suicidal thoughts often believe they cannot be helped, so it’s ideal to get the person immediate help by walking into a school counselor’s office or crisis center together, or calling the suicide and crisis line together. Second best is making arrangements to get them help including offering a ride to an appointment or offering childcare when they access care. Third best is to give referral information and get a good faith commitment from the person they won’t attempt suicide.
A sticker given away by the Salt Lake County Health Department at the January suicide prevention training in conjunction with Draper City. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
Offer encouragement with phrases such as “I want you to live, I’m on your side, or we’ll get through this.” If appropriate, enlist the help of others such as trusted family, friends, a faith leader or a physician.
Calling or texting 988, the free suicide and crisis line staffed by mental health professionals, is an excellent place to start. It operates nationwide.
“I really like this as a first step for helping someone because they’ll do the assessment and determine if it requires an emergency room visit or just deep breathing,” Burnham said. That service can refer to help specifically designed for veterans, Spanish speaking persons or LGBTQ+ individuals.
Burnham strongly suggested everyone have a few resources (see list below) saved in their phone so they’re prepared to help in a crisis, particularly the 988 suicide and crisis line.
Todd said police can help, though the appearance of police can be triggering for some or make the person in crisis feel like they’re in trouble, so fire department personnel are also trained to help. “Fire does a dang good job talking to people,” Todd said.
Burnham said there is hope for recovery, and recovery is the norm. One slide she shared quoted Eduardo Vega, president and CEO of Dignity Recovery Action! International, “We are living among people who have faced the worst of personal pain and doubt and come through them to better lives.”
Resources:
988 suicide and crisis line staffed by mental health professionals
Utah Warm Line 833-773-2588 (Peer support specialists for mental health or substance abuse struggles, 8 a.m.-11 p.m., free and confidential)
Thetrevorproject.org crisis lifeline for LGBTQ+ individuals, free and 24/7, call 1-866-488-7386
or text ‘START’ to 678-678
Help someone find a therapist starting with their insurance. Call 211, visit 211utah.org or findtreatment.gov.
SafeUT app for students, parents and educators, goes all the way through higher education
SafeUT Frontline for first responders including police, fire and frontline healthcare workers
Intermountain Health’s Behavioral Health navigation, adults 833-442-2211, teens 385-478-2400
National Alliance on Mental Illness www.namiut.org or NAMI Utah helpline 801-323-9900
Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention afsp.org
