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The staff of VOiCE Up Berks is certified to provide QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention from the QPR Institute. 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. Gatekeepers can be anyone, including parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. QPR is taught in a clear, concise format using the latest in educational technology and practices.
KEY COMPONENTS COVERED IN TRAINING:
How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
The common causes of suicidal behavior
The warning signs of suicide
How to get help for someone in crisis
Length of Training: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Audience: Secondary Level Students and Adults
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
Suicide Safer Homes
Suicide Safer Homes
The staff of VOiCE Up Berks is certified to provide training in Suicide Safer Homes. In an effort to prevent the tragedy of suicide, Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes teaches participants how to identify the warning signs and risk factors for suicide and how to put time and distance between the person at risk and lethal means. It informs participants in the role they can play in preventing suicide, by reducing access to lethal means, particularly firearms, with safe, responsible, and legal measures. Two out of every three firearm related deaths is suicide, this course focuses on men and veterans who disproportionately use firearms to end their lives.
KEY COMPONENTS COVERED IN TRAINING:
How to identify warning signs and risk factors
How to use safe strategies for reducing access to lethal means
Learning practical tips for increasing safety
Length of Training: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Audience: 18+
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
*most appropriate for the general public*
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Length of training: The seven-hour course starts with two hours of self-paced, online course work that you can do anytime followed by five hours of instructor-led training. For most trainings, the instructor-led portion of the training is done via Zoom.
Target Audience: 18+
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
*most appropriate for the general public*
Meet the staff...
Meet the staff...
Lindsay Sites holds a BA in Behavioral Health and Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in Reading, PA where she received the “Betty Ford Award” for academic achievements. A previous professional in the mental health/substance abuse field for over 10 years, Lindsay held positions including prevention specialist, primary counselor, and family counselor. Lindsay is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Director where she leads youth mental health initiatives. She is a certified instructor for both QPR Suicide Prevention and CALM trainings.
Casey Trexler has a masters of science degree in Secondary School Counseling from Gwynedd Mercy University and was a secondary school counselor for over a decade. Through her school counseling career, Casey was SAP (Student Assistance Program) certified, trained in restorative practices, a mandated reporter instructor, and was a recipient of the Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) Youth Prevention Award in 2014 and the Caron Foundation’s SAP Supporter Award in 2022. Casey is now Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading Program Coordinator where she supports youth mental health initiatives as well as a QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention instructor.
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