Brook Park council backs free QPR suicide-prevention training

The Brook Park City Council on March 4 adopted a resolution encouraging city employees, local businesses and residents to participate in free Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide-prevention training offered by the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMS) Board of Cuyahoga County.

The resolution, introduced in the legislative committee and presented at the March 4 caucus, passed on suspension of the rules after a motion to adopt by Councilman Roberts and a second by Councilman McCorkle. The council recorded votes in favor from Roberts, McCorkle, Scott, Saini, Wayne Dexter, Dufour and Troyer.

The resolution notes that about 90% of people in a suicidal crisis give some warning to those around them and that nearly half of individuals who die by suicide visit a primary care physician within a month of their death. It endorses free QPR training by ADAMS with support from the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio and a grant from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation.

Councilman Dufour, who introduced the item in committee, said, “This piece is pretty self explanatory,” and outlined the program’s structure: ADAMS provides a certified QPR instructor, and trainings can be held for groups as small as five (ideally around 10), delivered in one to two hours and offered in person or virtually.

Councilwoman Nissi said she wanted to join the effort because council members often encounter crisis situations while working in the community: “When Councilman Dufour had told me that he was talking and working on this, I definitely wanted to be a part of it.” Councilman Troyer proposed scheduling a session for the full council and suggested hosting recurring trainings for community groups.

The resolution encourages schools, first responders, community organizations, workplaces and volunteers to host or attend QPR sessions. It also provides scheduling information in the resolution text: interested parties can visit adamhscc.org or call (216) 241-3400 to arrange training.

Action and next steps recorded at the meeting: councilmembers agreed to explore holding a council-wide training and to promote the ADAMS public sessions (one was noted as scheduled for April 16 and was already sold out). The ADAMS Board can arrange one-off sessions for community groups.

The measure includes an emergency clause and a reference to compliance with Ohio’s open-meeting statute; it passed on council vote and will take effect once enacted and signed by the mayor.

Ending: The council’s action does not commit city funds; it expresses formal support and recommends that city departments and community partners organize or attend QPR sessions provided by the ADAMS Board.