QPR practice in suicide prevention and ensuring the well-being of adolescents and youth: implementation experience in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

and scalable prevention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of suicide among young people are
becoming particularly significant. QPR (“Question, Persuade, Refer”) is one of the scalable approaches
to suicide prevention, which involves training “gatekeepers” from among ordinary people who are able
to recognize signs of suicidal behavior and establish dialogue with potential suicidal individuals in such
a way as to encourage them to seek professional help. This approach has demonstrated effectiveness in
global practice and has also been implemented in Kazakhstan.
The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of implementing the QPR method for suicide
prevention and ensuring the well-being of adolescents and young people in Kazakhstan Republic. The
researchers conducted an evaluation of the application of the method in educational institutions. The authors
analyzed supervision reports of specialists who were trained in the QPR methodology and received
support during its implementation in practice. The study identified both the challenges faced by those
who applied the QPR method in their professional activities and the outcomes they observed.
The authors conclude that gatekeepers evaluated the method positively. However, since in some
regions of the country, during the period of project implementation, there were no services to which
potential suicidal individuals could be referred, the application of the QPR method could not be fully
realized. Stigma and the negative perception by the population of the professional’s qualifications who
could receive high-risk individuals also often hinder the effectiveness of gatekeepers’ work using the
QPR method. The authors also revealed specific features of the work of educational institution services,
which may also affect the effectiveness of suicide prevention projects.
The presented analysis is intended to assist those involved in the development and implementation
of suicide prevention programs to take into account the challenges and contextual factors that may
influence the course and effectiveness of projects aimed at addressing the problem of suicide among
adolescents and young people in Kazakhstan Republic.
Keywords: suicide, suicide prevention, well-being, QPR method, assessment of suicidal risks.