RiverValley Behavioral Health (RVBH) is proud to announce a partnership with Owensboro High School (OHS) to provide QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training to all OHS freshmen. Approximately 300 students will participate in this evidence-based training from February 17 through 20.
During this school year, OHS Principal Jennifer Luttrell and RVBH leadership have engaged in ongoing discussions about programming that can be provided to students to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma. As a result of those conversations, RVBH will deliver QPR training to the entire freshman class.
“We are grateful to partner with RiverValley Behavioral Health to provide QPR training for all OHS freshmen,” said OHS Principal Jennifer Luttrell. “This training equips our students with an evidence-based strategy to manage their mental health, recognize signs of suicide, and take action that could save lives. Our goal is for our Red Devils to respond with care and confidence in a crisis situation. This training helps develop the skills necessary to do just that.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among teenagers in the United States. In Kentucky, recent data shows that a significant percentage of high school students report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Programs like QPR provide practical, lifesaving skills that can help students intervene early and connect their peers to support before a crisis escalates.
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer: three simple but powerful steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. Through the training, students will learn how to recognize warning signs, ask direct questions, encourage their peers to seek help, and connect them to trusted adults and professional resources. Much like CPR prepares individuals to respond to a medical emergency, QPR prepares students to respond to a mental health crisis.
“Initiatives and partnerships like this can and do save lives. We are grateful to Ms. Luttrell for inviting our team to Owensboro High School to offer this lifesaving training,” said Cate Gaddis, RVBH Vice President of Operations, who has helped lead the initiative. “This effort has the potential to make an incredible, positive impact on the school and the surrounding community. By empowering students with knowledge and practical tools, we are reducing stigma, strengthening peer support, and fostering a culture where seeking help is normalized and encouraged.”
To accomplish this effort, 12 training sessions will be offered over four days. Seven RVBH trainers will work collaboratively to ensure all students receive the instruction. Coordination of the training is being led by Gerrimy Keiffer, RVBH Director of Community Health Evaluations. The QPR training sessions will conclude with school leadership and community partners celebrating the students’ participation and commitment to creating a safer, more supportive school environment. OHS and RVBH intend to continue working together to provide additional related training to seniors in April of this year.
In addition to QPR training, RVBH continues to partner with OHS in other meaningful ways, including a job shadowing program alongside the OHS Special Education Department that provides students with hands-on workplace experience. The program helps students build essential skills such as time management, communication, and professionalism while preparing them for future employment opportunities. To learn more about training opportunities at RVBH, visit rvbh.com/training.
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