Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com By  Lisa Foust Prater When someone stops breathing and is suffering a cardiac arrest, their life may be saved by a bystander who has been trained in CPR. Likewise, when someone is facing a potential #suicide crisis, their life may be saved by a friend who has been trained in #QPR. The “#QuestionPersuadeRefer.” method is an emergency #mentalhealth intervention intended to identify and interrupt a #suicide crisis and direct the affected person to the proper care. Both CPR and QPR fill the gap between the moment of crisis and the arrival of professional care by following a prescribed series of steps. #Farmers and their allies can learn the QPR method of #suicideprevention by attending a free online webinar, “QPR for #Farmers and Farm Families,” from the AgriSafe Network. Check the schedule at agrisafe.org/courses/qpr_sda.  AgriSafe has seven certified QPR trainers, including Tara Haskins, the total #farmer health director for AgriSafe Network, and Amanda Stone, assistant professor and Extension dairy specialist for Mississippi State University.  Read more: Breaking the #stigma of #farmer #suicide Upon completion, attendees will be designated as QPR-trained Gatekeepers, which means they are able to recognize the warning signs of #suicide, know how to offer hope, and are able to get professional help for the person in need. “You don’t have to be a #nurse,” Stone says. “All of us have a role in helping producers.” “We are not intending to make you into a #counselor or #therapist, but to offer hope through positive action,” Haskins says. “Research has shown us that laypeople can be very effective in encouraging others to get to treatment.” ACKNOWLEDGING THE CULTURE OF #FARMING This training goes beyond typical QPR training to include information specific to #farmers. “Knowing the stressors associated with farm life and culture should inform how you Question, Persuade, and Refer anyone you may speak with about their #mentalhealth or #suicidalideations,” Stone says. “We’re going to let you walk a mile in a farmer’s shoes.” The rate of #suicide and self-harm among #farmers is nearly twice that of the general population, she says. Contributing factors include long hours, physically demanding work, unpredictable income, factors out of the farmer’s control, #isolation, pressure to keep the farm in the family, and an identity closely tied to being a #farmer. Read more: Who am I if I'm not a #farmer anymore? “Losing the farm or the threat of not being able to pass it on to future generations can really equal the epitome of failure for the #farmer,” Stone says. “It’s like they are losing themselves.” Because of the #stigma some associate with #mentalhealth and the lack of local #mentalhealthcare, many #farmers resist seeking help. That makes it even more important for family members and friends of #farmers to be aware of symptoms that could point to a potential #suicide crisis. “All of us have a role in helping producers.”— Amanda Stone, PhD “Rugged individualism prevents help seeking-#behavior,” Stone says. #Farmers may think that since their father or grandfather made it through hard times, they should be able to as well. She says guns are often needed on the farm and are very easily accessible, which increases the lethal risk for self-harm or #suicide. #James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book, Celebrating Your Gift of Life: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Stone says the alarming rates of #stress and #depression in the industry can also increase the farmer’s risk of injury and the likelihood of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The first signs may be physical complaints like headaches and abdominal pain. Other signs that something’s not right may include drinking more than usual and letting things go on the farm. If a farmer’s shop is generally tidy, and you notice tools lying everywhere, he or she could be dealing with #depression. “Step in when you feel like you need to step in,” Stone says.  Read more: FarmHer: Breaking the silence “Don’t leave the farm if you think something’s going on with a #farmer that you think could be detrimental. It’s difficult to ask if they’re considering #suicide but that needs to be asked.” Haskins agrees that asking that question is the hardest part. “You may not know the perfect words to say,” she says. “You don’t have to fill the space with words. Just ask open-ended questions and give them the time to talk.”  “We need to look at #suicide as a preventable death.” — Tara Haskins, DNP, RN Your willingness to listen and to help can rekindle hope and make all the difference.” Seek professional help. Since QPR is intended to be a stop-gap until professional help can be obtained, the webinar instructs Gatekeepers to store all the needed contact information in their phones, including #suicide hotlines, local hospitals, and #mentalhealthprofessionals. This is something everyone can do. “You may need to dial the phone for them,” Haskins says. “Offer to ride along and wait in the parking lot while they go in and talk to someone.” People who are having #suicidalthoughts feel a disconnect from their community. “QPR tries to reconnect them with people who care,” Haskins says. “We need to look at #suicide as a preventable death.”  Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
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