On Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Carl Grant Event Center, Union University hosted Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training.
Led by Emily Lunn, southwest regional director for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), and hosted by Union’s Counseling Services and Office of Human Resources, the session equipped faculty and staff with practical tools to recognize warning signs of suicide and respond with care.
Attendees were introduced to the QPR model, which teaches how to identify signs of suicidal thinking, engage in open and supportive conversations and connect individuals with professional help. Lunn emphasized that one conversation and one caring person can make a meaningful difference.
“It is important to ask the question pertaining to suicide because when we do, it allows people to open up and share their story,” Lunn said. “In asking the question, we provide a space for individuals to be heard and for us as caregivers to be on the same page and be a helpful resource.”
The session also highlighted how connection plays a key role in prevention and offered strategies for initiating conversations without shame or stigma.
“The beauty of QPR is that it’s just about asking questions that are hard to ask,” said Tamarin Huelin, director of counseling services. “We want faculty and staff to feel empowered to ask and to know they don’t have to be afraid of it.”
Faculty and staff reflected on how the training supported Union’s mission to care and support students as whole individuals.
“It’s important to me as a professor to not just think about my students’ academic needs, but their overall well-being,” said Ashley Blair, chair and associate professor of communication arts. “This is just another way the university provides for us to help students.”
The training brought clarity on how to respond in crisis situations and reinforced that faculty and staff are not responsible for solving the problem but for walking alongside students and guiding them toward help.
“It’s a training you hope you never have to use,” said Allie Housman, human resources manager. “But if the situations presents itself, it’s much better to have knowledge and feel equipped.”
The session concluded with an overview of Union’s mental health resources and protocols, including how Counseling Services and Campus Safety partner to support individuals in crisis.
