Suicide Awareness & Hope

Workshops, Resources, & Support Groups

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple yet powerful steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to the help they need. Each year, thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor by becoming a part of the QPR life-saving network. QPR can be learned in our 90-minute Gatekeeper training course. Gatekeepers can be anyone including parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, police officers, volunteer coaches, youth organization leaders, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:
  • Recognize the warning signs of suicide
  • Ask tough questions and offer hope
  • Get help and save a life
The Community Services Behavioral Health Wellness Team is offering QPR trainings throughout the year to assist our residents in helping others and broaden our QPR Network across Greater Prince William. Now, more than ever, it is important to reach out to our friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to engage in health promotion and suicide prevention conversations. Please use the links below to register for an upcoming QPR training. Questions? Contact Heather Martinsen at hmartinsen@pwcgov.org
When:  Monday, May 24, 2021 | 6PM - 7:30PM Where: Zoom ( Click here to Register! ) Over the last year, many of us have dealt with uncertainty in our lives. The stress of the pandemic remains a daily reminder of the importance of our health and wellness. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and SPAN invites you to share in the stories of four community members and how they navigated the challenges in their own lives. Each will discuss some of the tools they used to not only survive but thrive during such uncertainties. SPEAKERS:
  • Helen, TC Williams High School, Alexandria, Virginia
  • Meghna, Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn, Virginia
  • Allen Lomax, Chair, Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria and
  • Member, SPAN Leadership Council
  • Pastor Gustavo Pacheco, McLean Bible Church, McLean, Virginia
Please join us for this very interesting and insightful conversation and get some tools that will help you thrive now and in the future! For more information, contact carol.loftur-thun@fairfaxcounty.gov Click here to Register!

Behavioral health – which includes mental health, substance use, and more – is a key part of your overall well-being. Brief screenings are the quickest way to determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a behavioral health professional. Think of these as a checkup from your neck up. This program is completely anonymous and confidential, and immediately following the brief questionnaire you will see your results, recommendations, and key resources.

How does it work?

  1. Select the statement that fits how you have been thinking or behaving.
  2. Answer the brief set of questions about yourself and how you are feeling.
  3. Understand - Get comprehensive explanations about your moods and behaviors.
  4. Explore - Access informational materials about what you can do to help yourself.

Take a screening.

This guide, developed by the Connor Strong Foundation, is dedicated to those grieving the death of someone they love. This guide has been designed to help you to choose when and what sections are most appropriate for you. It is not intended as something you need to read through from cover to cover. Your family, friends or colleagues may also find it helpful to look through this guide so that they can begin to try and understand a little of what you are going through and how to find the right help. Some sections focus on how you may be feeling; others on what may be happening. Throughout – and in more detail at the back – are some suggestions for sources of further support. There are also quotes from people who have been bereaved and who have experienced some of what you may be going through. View Support Guide.
This support group is hosted by the David J Cobb Foundation for those who have lost someone to suicide. When:  Last Wednesday of the month Time:  7:00pm - 8:00pm Where:  Virtually (contact info@djcfoundation.org for details) Facilitator:  Kim Fleming
This support group, hosted by the David J Cobb Foundation, is only for parents who have lost a child to suicide When:  First Sunday of the Month Time:  1:00pm - 2:30pm Where:  ACTS office, 9317 Grant Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110 Facilitator:  Kim Fleming Questions? Contact  info@djcfoundation.org for more information.
When: 3rd Tuesday from 7 - 8:30pm Where: Located at Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, 9350 Main Street, Manassas PFLAG helps keep families together and promotes equality and the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) people and their families through support, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1983, we are a nonprofit, nonpartisan, volunteer organization. For more information contact: pflag.pwc@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/PFGLAGPWC Facilitators:  Tina Moser, Chris McClure, Allison Jaye, Jason Shriner
This is a private Facebook group whose purpose is to bring awareness to suicide and mental health while providing a safe, non-judgement place for support to anyone who may need it.  Members are global and are available to offer support to anyone who needs it. Questions? Contact  info@djcfoundation.org for more information.
Find the resources and information you're looking  for at our Prevention Resources Hub where we have collected dependable and credible sources of information for youth, young adults, parents, and adults. Can't find what you're looking for? Let us know, and we will make it our priority to get you connected to the resources you need!

Lock & Talk Virginia

Lock & Talk is a statewide program in Virginia to restrict lethal means such as medications and guns to prevent suicide. For someone in crisis, research shows buying time can be key. Hours count. Minutes count. 

​Providing locking medication boxes for prescription medicines and locks for guns is an evidence-based strategy for restricting access to these often lethal means of suicide. Lock & Talk not only provides locking med boxes and gun locks, it also gives people the knowledge and tools to talk about safety with those in crisis or in need of support. 

Claim Your Free Medication Lock Box or Trigger Lock

Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia

SPAN develops regional approaches to suicide prevention. With our partners, we convene, host, coordinate, and inform youth, adults, and professionals to build our community’s capacity to prevent suicide. Our mission is to prevent suicide in Northern Virginia. Sign up for their monthly newsletter to learn more about upcoming events, panel discussions, resources, and more created to prevent suicide across the lifespan.

Question. Persuade. Refer

Courtesy of The QPR Institute

Register for a QPR training today at no cost to you.

Local Support and Resources

ACTS Helpline: 703-368-4141

  • Serving Greater Prince William Residents
  • Hours: Available 24 hours.
  • Learn more

Children’s Regional Crisis Response (CR2)

  • 24-hour rapid response
  • Call 844-627-4747 or 571-364-7390
  • Serves all youth (21 and younger) facing a mental health and/or substance use crisis. 
  • Learn more

David J Cobb Foundation

  • Contact: Kimberly Fleming
  • Info@djcfoundation.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

  • or text “START” to 741-741
  • Hours: Available 24 hours.
  • Languages: English, Spanish

Connor Strong Foundation

Crisis Lines

  • The Trevor Project – LGBTQ Crisis Hotline
    • Call 1-866-488-7386
  • Hopeline
    • Call 1-800-Suicida for Spanish speakers
    • Call 1-877-YOUTHLINE for teen-to-teen counseling
  • I’m Alive – an Online Crisis Network Chat