The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) is taking proactive steps to support student well-being by undergoing QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training. The initiative is led by Dr. Maggie Beshears, Director of Counseling at UACCB, as part of an ongoing mental health partnership with White River Health.
QPR is an evidence-based gatekeeper intervention program designed to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis, offer hope, and direct individuals toward professional care.
Just as CPR prepares laypeople to assist during medical emergencies, QPR equips educators and campus staff with the practical tools needed to intervene early during a psychological crisis.
“Equipping our campus community with the confidence to recognize warning signs and initiate compassionate, direct conversations makes a profound difference for our students,” said Dr. Maggie Beshears, LPC, Director of Counseling at UACCB. “Through our partnership with White River Health, we are strengthening our safety net and creating a culture where asking for help is normalized and supported.”
During the sessions, UACCB faculty and staff learn how to:
- Question: Recognize subtle warning signs and ask directly about suicide risk.
- Persuade: Listen actively, offer hope, and persuade individuals to seek assistance.
- Refer: Connect students directly to campus counseling services and regional resources provided through White River Health.
The training also complements UACCB’s new Mental Health Advocacy initiative, which brings together faculty and staff representing multiple areas of campus to identify opportunities to further strengthen mental health support for students and employees. The group will help expand awareness and wellness programming, improve connections to available resources, identify additional training needs, and recommend ways the College can continue building a campus culture that supports mental well-being.
QPR training is one part of UACCB’s broader commitment to improving mental health awareness and support across campus. Together, the College’s counseling services, partnership with White River Health, Mental Health Advocacy initiative, and other wellness efforts are helping reduce stigma, encourage earlier connections to support, and ensure students and employees know where to turn when help is needed.
UACCB will continue that focus during Mental Health Week, September 14–18, with a series of activities for students and employees designed to promote wellness, connection, and awareness of available support. Events include a mental health presentation and free health screenings, a stress-relief activity, a Caring Campus event, mindfulness meditation, and additional QPR training and refresher sessions.
The week’s activities are part of a larger effort to make mental health support more visible throughout campus and to provide students and employees with practical opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with available resources.
