QPR Suicide Triage Training for 911 and Police Dispatch Call Takers

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QPR Suicide Triage Training for 9-1-1 and Police
Dispatch Call Takers

• Summary evaluation

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Reasons for Training

• 911 call takers and police dispatch professionals
  are targeted by the Surgeon General for suicide
  prevention training. This training program was
  designed to
• Increase awareness that suicide is a national
  problem and one of the key reasons persons call
  911
• Increase awareness that suicide is a significant
  cause of death among American citizens and law
  enforcement personnel
• Increase foundation knowledge about the causes of
  suicide
• Enhance suicide risk assessment and risk
  management skills
• Affirm and enhance the current work of 911
  personnel

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The QPR Suicide Triage 8-hour Course Covers

• The size and scope of the suicide problem in
  America
• Risk factors for suicide
• Relationship of mental illness to suicide
• The current status of suicide risk assessment
• Suicide issues within the Criminal Justice System

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QPR Suicide Triage Course Cont.

• Crisis intervention and counseling skills
• How to Question suicidal persons
• How to Persuade suicidal people to accept help
• How to Refer suicidal people to resources
• How to determine immediate risk for suicide
• How to document a suicide risk assessment

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Course Objectives

• Enhance the confidence and competence of 9-1-1
  call takers in dealing with suicidal callers
• Become aware of the size and scope of the suicide
  problem in America and locally.
• Learn at least 10 risk factors for suicide
• Understand the relationship of mental illness to
  suicide
• Learn about the relationship of domestic violence
  to suicide

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Course Objectives

• Understand the current limitations of suicide
  risk assessment
• Learn how to interview a suicidal person to
  immediately reduce the risk of a suicide attempt
• Learn what questions to ask and why
• Learn to properly document a first level suicide
  risk assessment

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Training Results

• Thirty-seven western Oregon 911 call takers and
  police dispatchers attended the QPR Institutes
  8-hour Suicide Triage Training course. An
  objective 18-item quiz divided into four
  sub-scales was used to tap information in the
  following areas epidemiology and statistics,
  suicide risk factors and warning signs, suicide
  risk assessment interviewing, and suicide risk
  management and counseling skills.

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Training Results continued

• Pre-training results led to a group average score
  of 56.9 items correct. A passing score for this
  course is 75 items correct (a score used by
  licensing authorities in the assessment of
  professional competence). Using this standard,
  the average 911 or police dispatch professional
  participating in this training would not have
  passed the course on the pretest, but would have
  passed the posttest (34 of 37). Only three
  professionals passed the pretest at 75 standard,
  whereas only 2 of 37 failed the posttest.

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Pre-Posttest Change Scores
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SUMMARY

• Post-course testing showed statistically
  significant improvement (p.001) in all areas
  measured with an average score of 87 items
  correct after training was completed. A high
  degree of perceived course value was reported, as
  well as gains in specific knowledge about
  suicide. Participants also reported higher levels
  of confidence in handling suicidal callers.
  Summary course evaluation scores were based on
  1-to-5 Likert scales, where 1 no value, and 5
  great value. All course evaluation measures were
  greater than 4.2.

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Course Evaluation Measures Greater than 4.2 on a
5-point Likert Sale

• Overall, the course was of value to me and the
  duties I perform
• My overall knowledge of suicide has been enhanced
  by this training
• I will approach my next caller or situation with
  more confidence
• Please rate your overall impression of the
  instructional staff

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Selected Participant Comments on QPR Suicide
Triage Training

• This class has added to my confidence in asking
  questions
• Being able to answer the phone with confidence
  is crucial
• It gives me a format to ask questions and
  guidelines I didnt have before.
• This was great class! It will make me more
  comfortable with talking to a suicidal caller.
• I finally got some training to back up what I do
  on a daily basis.
• I will be more direct with suicidal callers and
  I now understand, to a fuller extent, that what I
  say thoroughly impacts the situation.
• Gave me tools I didnt have before.
• Wonderful class, my whole department needs
  this!

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• Source of data and report
• Dell Hackett at the Law Enforcement Wellness
  Association (www.cophealth.com)
• Paul Quinnett at the QPR Institute
  (www.qprinstitute.com)
• Please contact us with any questions.