Learn warning signs of suicide and how to offer hope at Richland training

Learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and how to offer hope at a training session in Richland Friday.

It’s an issue that reaches across demographic groups in Benton and Franklin counties, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Those most likely to die by suicide in the Tri-Cities area are men, accounting for 80% of the deaths, and suicide fatality is highest among people aged 45 to 54.

But emergency room visits related to suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts are higher among women than men and decrease with age. The greatest percentage of ER visits by age were in those 10 to 17 years old, according to the health district.

Poor mental health has almost doubled among Hispanic or Latino residents since 2019, it said.

Compassionate Ministries of the Richland Church of the Nazarene will be offering free QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer — Training to the Tri-Cities community at the church at 2500 Jericho Road.

Participants will learn not only how to recognize warning signs of suicide, but to understand suicide as a public health issue, increase awareness of stigma, and local and national referral resources.

The training is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 24.

Register online at bit.ly/4epgKxu. More information is available by emailing brett.koss@ccsemail.org.