TOWN OF SAUKVILLE —The Riveredge Nature Center announced Thursday that it has begun working to increase mental wellness by training community members and service providers in a lifesaving Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention program, using funds from a four-year Washington County Behavioral Health grant awarded earlier this year.
The county Behavioral Health grants are funded through one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Washington County Health & Humans Services Department made available approximately $2 million of ARPA funding to support the grants, which are dedicated to developing innovative approaches that expand access to behavioral health services related to mental health and substance abuse and provide resources for people experiencing behavioral health crises. The Riveredge Nature Center was one of 11 Washington County organizations that were chosen in March to receive the ARPA-funded grants to address mental health and substance abuse issues in the county.
Over the last month or two, Riveredge has been running its initial training sessions, which combine direct training and time spent outdoors, for its own staff, said Riveredge Executive Director John Rakowski. The training equips individuals with the tools to help people suffering from mental health crises or suicidal ideation. Recently, however, Riveredge has started its first community trainings.
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“We just ran our first presentations with counselors from Camp Minikani,” Rakowski said. “These are adults and young adults who work with youth adults and youth on a regular basis.”
While still early in the roll-out of the training, Rakowski said that the goal is to reach as many community members as possible over the next four years.
The trainings
Riveredge Director of Development Sharon Cross runs the QPR Suicide Prevention training program. Cross said QPR provides participants with the tools to intervene when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis situation. The trainings begin with an instructional portion and end with a hike through nature.
Cross compares the QPR process — question, persuade, refer — to CPR that first responders use. It’s a method that research has proven works for suicide prevention, Cross said, but it can also be used in most mental health crisis situations.
The first step, questioning, involves asking someone if they are considering suicide.
“It can be a challenging, emotional question,” said Cross. “There’s a lot of taboo in our society that if you bring suicide up, you can put the idea in somebody’s head, but research has shown time and again that it’s not true.”
The next step, persuading, is about finding ways to convince or persuade the person that there is hope, Cross said. This step is about listening and building a human connection with the person, Cross said, not just trying to find immediate solutions.
The final step in the process involves referring the person to the right care provider and medical professional, said Cross.
“Just like with most people administering CPR, we’re not doctors,” Cross said. “But it’s about triaging the situation until we can get people to the right professionals.”
In Washington County, that means calling 211 to reach the Crisis Line, Cross said. Riveredge also provides trainees with a resource sheet for referring people to the most appropriate next steps.
Trainings end with a hike to allow participants to experience coping strategies like exposure to nature, social connection and physical activity, Cross said.
“Being out in nature can often provide spaces where people feel comfortable being open and honest,” Cross said. “I know with my past experiences as a camp counselor, I had many people open up to me on the trail or around a fire. On the other hand, outdoor activities can also be a coping skill. Implementing QPR can be challenging for the facilitator and the individual they are helping, so going outside can be beneficial to both.”
An investment
Rakowski said Riveredge wants to continue to train more staff, volunteers and community members over the duration of the four-year grant, making the training available not only to current and future organizational partners, but also to the wider community.
“Ultimately, the idea is that this training would alleviate calls to law enforcement and alleviate the amount of time people are disconnected from support systems,” Rakowski said. “It helps build a healthier community.”
Last year, Riveredge engaged over 40,000 community members from within and outside of Washington County through its various programs and events, according to Rakowski, who wants to leverage that impact and equip as many people as possible with tools to help themselves and others with mental health crises.
“I’m excited for this being a four-year investment that the community has made in the community,” Rakowski said. “We have ongoing mental health challenges that need ongoing care and attention. Coming out of COVID, we’re seeing this more and more. This is not a one-off. This is important to what we’re doing as an organization moving forward.”
