Dear Faculty and Staff,
Over the last few years you have become acquainted with the Gold Folder and our new Mental Health Guidebook for UC Faculty and Staff to assist you in helping students in distress. One component of that help is understanding when a student may be in danger of suicide. Counseling and Psychological Services would like to offer you a unique training specifically to support students who may be thinking about suicide. We have two types of training sessions available: QPR and Psychological First Aid.
QPR TRAINING
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. 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. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:
- Recognize the warning signs of suicide
- Know how to offer hope
- Know how to get help and save a life
Counseling and Psychological Services is offering this one hour and 15 minute course specifically for UC Berkeley faculty, staff and GSIs, held at the University Health Services. Slots are limited so please register quickly.
*Tuesday, October 10 - QPR for Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Section Club room, 12:10-1:30pm; register here
*Wednesday, October 25 - QPR for Faculty/Staff/GSI, UHS Class of 42 room, 12:10-1:30pm; register here
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TRAINING
When tragic events happen in our UC Berkeley community faculty, staff and GSIs are often called upon to offer support to students impacted. This 1.5 hour course will help you to learn the basic skills necessary to provide common sense support after a tragedy, such as a student death. The course will also address CPS response and how faculty, staff, and GSIs can collaborate with the Tang Center. This is a "pilot" course and is being offered as a way to help increase the supports campus provides in the aftermath of a tragedy and help the community begin to heal.
*Tuesday, October 24 - PFA for Faculty/Staff, UHS Class of 42 room, 12:10-1:30pm; register here
*Wednesday, November 8, PFA for Faculty/Staff, UHS Section Club room, 12:10-1:30pm; register here
Please email Aaron Cohen, PhD at acohen@berkeley.edu if you have any questions.
Be well,
Claudia Covello
Assistant Vice Chancellor
University Health Services
Gloria Saito, PhD
Interim Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
University Health Services
If you are a manager who supervises UC Berkeley employees without email access, please circulate this information to all.