Suicide Prevention Training for Illinois School Personnel: Free, Self-paced Online Training for Non-Clinicians

Suicide Prevention Training for Illinois School Personnel: Free, Self-paced Online Training for Non-Clinicians

Anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. It takes just three steps –

1. Question a person about suicide.
2. Persuade a suicidal person to get help.
3. Refer a suicidal person to the appropriate resources.

ECHO-Chicago at the University of Chicago is offering three Question Persuade Refer (QPR) trainings for those working with youth and young adults ages 10 through 24 in Illinois: QPR Gatekeeper Training, QPR for Athletics, and QPR Pathfinder Training. These trainings are self-paced online trainings. 

Space is limited. To reserve your spot, register by visiting the links below:

QPR Gatekeeper Training

The QPR Gatekeeper Training is a general, introductory suicide prevention training for professionals working with youth in Illinois. This training is a self-paced online training that takes about 1 hour to complete.

Upon completion of training, participants should be able to understand:

• The common causes of suicidal behavior
• The warning signs of suicide
• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
• How to get help for yourself or for someone in crisis

Register for QPR GATEKEEPER TRAINING

This training is available through June 30, 2026. Register via link above and enter registration code “ILS1837184428”.

For re-certification training , enter “ILS1817629428” instead.

QPR for Athletics

As a person working with athletes, coaches may be a significant person in their lives who spend more time with them than any other. Coaches may also be the one person in whom they may confide when in trouble or experiencing mental health difficulties, so they may be in a position to detect, screen, identify and refer at-risk athletes to appropriate qualified professionals for support and treatment. QPR for Athletics is a self-paced online training that takes about 1 hour to complete.

Upon completion of training, participants should be able to:

• Understand the common myths and facts surrounding suicide
• Identify unique verbal, behavioral, and situational suicide warning signs
• Recognize and respond to athletes and others in distress who may be at risk of suicide
• Demonstrate increased knowledge, skills, self-efficacy and intent to act to intervene with suicidal athletes

Register for QPR for athletics

This training is available through June 30, 2026. 

QPR Pathfinder Training

This program aims to develop participants into Pathfinders—specialists who can identify early signs of a mental health crisis and then apply interventions known to reduce personal distress, despair, hopelessness, and emerging suicidal behaviors. The QPR Pathfinder Training is a self-paced online training that takes about 14 hours to complete, plus the time to read a small book.

Upon completion of training, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in helping those in crisis
• Demonstrate a deep listening guided interview with someone in crisis
• Engage supportive third parties in setting up a risk management plan
• Implement a means reduction intervention
• Describe a safety plan and demonstrate the ability to develop one
• Understand and employ the caring contacts intervention

Register for QPR Pathfinder training

This training is available through June 30, 2026. 

*The QPR Pathfinder Training is not intended for licensed behavioral health professionals. For information on other training offerings for behavioral health professionals, please reach out to echo@bsd.uchicago.edu.

This training meets the requirements related to training for school personnel about suicide prevention listed in 105 ILCS 5/10-22.39.