Regional Health Department To Host Training To Combat Suicides

AVON, CT — The local health department is hosting a special program at the Avon Free Public Library on Thursday, Nov 2, that could help someone save a life.

A representative of the Farmington Valley Health District, which oversees several area towns such as Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, New Hartford and Simsbury, will be on hand to teach "QPR" training to combat suicides.

The program is Thursday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library's community room. The Avon Free Public Library is located at 281 Country Club Road, Avon.

QPR stands for "Question. Persuade. Refer"

"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," reads an announcement.

Thursday's program is a free 90-minute training session that will be run by Justine Ginsberg, community health coordinator and program director for the Farmington Valley Health District, which is based in Canton, but serves several area towns.

"If you are a parent, caregiver, veteran, educator, teenager or a compassionate human, you are welcome to attend this workshop," reads an event announcement.

The session is limited to 30, but if that capacity is exceeded, another session will be scheduled.

For more information and to register for the program, click on this link.