MVHS Students gain QPR certification through the Guidance of Westchester seminar

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, Mount Vernon High School students obtained Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training from mental health professionals at the Guidance of Westchester. The Center for College and Career (CCC) held the event in its office space filled with plants and homemade artwork of motivational sayings and the accolades of past program members. 

The purpose of the event was to teach students about suicide prevention and how to save not only their peers' lives from the tragedy of suicide but also notice patterns in themselves and inspire them to always seek help. Students went home with their QPR certification and multiple resources to turn to if they, or anyone they know, ever face mental troubles in the future. 

“My goal for the students going through QPR training is to identify what they may be going through themselves and to know where to go,” said Kimberly Morales, the Director of the CCC program. “And to be able to identify and know what to do with the information if any of their family, friends or community members come to them with any kind of suicidal ideology.” 

The center provided many activities for students to enjoy during their time at the Guidance of Westchester. There were board games, coloring pages, and crosswords for students to work on during downtime. They were also given a meal of baked or fried chicken, white rice and beans with a side of vegetables and sauces. Alongside all of the valuable information they were taught, students were also sent home with a self-care kit and freebies such as bracelets, pins, and pens to encourage taking care of themselves as a form of mental health. 

During the QPR training, students were encouraged to ask questions and challenge the stigmas and biases they hold about mental health and the stigma of suicide.

 “I want people who are struggling to know that pain is pain,” said Jhordene Holgate, an MVHS senior who completed her QPR training. “Whatever you are going through, it doesn’t matter how big or how small it is, if it makes you feel a certain way, you should try to seek help.” 

Together, this group of students successfully learned how to recognize the signs of someone who is struggling mentally with suicide ideation, debunk myths about suicide and discuss tips and preventative measures to help loved ones and possibly save a precious life.