Aimed at producing “gatekeepers” to address suicide in the community, the Bhutanese Community Association of Charlotte (BCAC) organized a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training in Charlotte, Saturday.
“It was our community effort to address suicide issue, and exercise possible preventive measures,” said Hasta Pradhan, BCAC Chairperson.
Perry Griffin, Multicultural Advocate at Mental Health Association, and her colleague, Carey Davies, facilitated the QPR training that was attended by around two dozens of Bhutanese youths.
(Picture: Vidhyapati/BNS)
The training discussed myths and misconceptions about suicide, risk factors and clues, role of QPR gatekeepers in intervening to help prevent someone from attempting a suicide, and available helps and resources.
“I was impressed by the turnout, and concerns for one another. I believe this is a great start to help understand suicide, its warning signs, and methods to help those living with suicidal thoughts,” Griffin told BNS after the training.
According to her, those who die by suicide actually do not want to die, but only want their psychological pains to end permanently.
“Helping to reach out to those in such a pain will help prevent suicide. I hope through education and good support to those in need, we can help prevent future tragedies. The Bhutanese-Nepalese are strongly community-minded people and will be successful in helping one another,” added she.
She also talked about addressing mental health status of resettled Bhutanese through similar trainings by involving Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), local resettlement agencies, and community groups among others in future.
