Registration open for no-cost crisis response training sessions

Crisis situations are often unexpected.

Lawyers may have clients who are in emotional pain or may encounter colleagues who struggle with depression, substance use, and/or suicidal ideation – all of which have elevated rates in the legal profession. Having strategies for working with others in a crisis can save lives.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer. With simple, practical, and proven steps, QPR training is the most widely taught suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the world.

The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is offering QPR training sessions at no cost. Registration is open for three upcoming virtual QPR training sessions in May, June, and July. The training dates for August-November will be posted after June 25. The training is approved for up to 1.6 hours of MCLE credit, including ethics. 

Suicide is a reality in the legal profession. Statistics on the suicide rate of lawyers in the United States are cause for concern. The Dave Nee Foundation in New York, a think tank for the study of lawyer depression, ranks American lawyers fifth occupationally in the incidence of suicide.¹ 

“QPR Gatekeeper Training presents practical training in a brief period on a suicide prevention and is designed to help individuals recognize the warning signs of suicide and take appropriate action to help someone in crisis,” said MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer.

Participants will become more comfortable and confident in broaching the sensitive subject of suicide, receive support resources, and practice and discuss skills learned.

Each session is two hours long and limited to 25 participants. The session will conclude with recent research regarding lawyer and judicial well-being. Attendees will receive access to online support materials to reinforce the training, complete a pre- and post-test about their confidence in discussing the topic of suicide, and can print a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Register 
To register, first click on your preferred time and date.

May 28, noon-2 p.m.    
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/86937121180?pwd=9VIXSZp18VoUn9J86dNfl7VuBJatX1.1

June 25, noon-2 p.m.   
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/86397006096?pwd=oKauhILE9j1xbLTITJWKKiKTOn66B5.1

July 16, noon-2 p.m.  
https://mobar-org.zoom.us/j/84508011500?pwd=jtA7ZtbnpYSrye4nuK6Fs8VCK0UbMb.1

Registration for the April 30 training is now closed.

Parmer will email the participants the pre-test several days before the training and register participants through the QPR system after they complete the course. This will give participants access to the post-test, follow-up support materials, and allow them to provide instructor feedback to improve the quality of the training. 

1 Michael Steven Webb, Dissenting from Death: Preventing Lawyer Suicide, A.B.A. (2021) https://www.americanbar.org/groups/senior_lawyers/resources/voice-of-experience/2010-2022/dissenting-death-preventing-lawyer-suicide/#:~:text=Statistics%20on%20the%20suicide%20rate,in%20the%20incidence%20of%20suicide.