# UK, UK HealthCare reach 5,000 suicide prevention trainings milestone **Published:** 2026-05-28T14:15:37.000Z **Source:** [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/uk-uk-healthcare-partners-surpass-5000-suicide-prevention-trainings-statewide) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-uk-healthcare-reach-5-000-suicide-prevention-trainings-milestone LEXINGTON, Ky. — [The University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare have surpassed 5,000 Kentuckians trained in suicide prevention](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/uk-uk-healthcare-partners-surpass-5000-suicide-prevention-trainings-statewide), achieving a significant milestone in a statewide effort to address one of the Commonwealth's most pressing public health challenges. [The free online Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training](https://kyqpr.ukhc.org/), launched in 2022 through UK HealthCare's Healthy Kentucky Initiative, equips participants with practical skills to recognize warning signs of suicide, ask direct supportive questions and connect individuals to resources. The one-hour course has been made available around the clock at no cost to all Kentuckians. The milestone comes as suicide remains the second leading cause of death among Kentuckians ages 10 to 34. [Kentucky had 844 suicide deaths in 2024, representing an age-adjusted rate of 17.9 per 100,000 people](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-by-suicide/state/kentucky/), placing the state among the highest in the nation. "Reaching more than 5,000 trained individuals means thousands of people across Kentucky are now better prepared to recognize warning signs and help someone in crisis," said Trudi Matthews, chief of value-based programs, public policy and community initiatives at UK HealthCare. To expand participation, the Healthy Kentucky Initiative partnered with the UK College of Communication and Information to implement a statewide promotional campaign grounded in strategic communication. The campaign, featuring the message "It starts with a question," challenges the misconception that only professionals can intervene in mental health crises. Research on QPR effectiveness has demonstrated positive outcomes. Studies show that [QPR training produces both short- and long-term positive outcomes in knowledge and self-efficacy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28840363/), and [participants demonstrate increased ability to recognize suicide warning signs and intention to intervene](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0017896918786009). The initiative's success has been driven by partnerships across colleges and universities statewide, behavioral health organizations and community partners including New Vista and the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities. The [Cooperative Extension Service](https://extension.mgcafe.uky.edu/) has played a critical role in expanding reach across all 120 Kentucky counties. Jenni Jinright, Healthy Kentucky Initiative manager for UK HealthCare, said the team has set its sights on the next milestone. "With more than 5,000 Kentuckians now trained, the project has gained substantial momentum," she said. "Now we have our eyes on 10,000 Kentuckians trained." [The free training is available to Kentucky residents 18 and older](https://kyqpr.ukhc.org/). Those in crisis can call, text or chat 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. ## Sources - [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/uk-uk-healthcare-partners-surpass-5000-suicide-prevention-trainings-statewide) - [Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training](https://kyqpr.ukhc.org/) - [Suicide statistics for Kentucky](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-by-suicide/state/kentucky/) - [Long-Term Effectiveness of the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28840363/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from University of Kentucky News, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/uk-uk-healthcare-partners-surpass-5000-suicide-prevention-trainings-statewide.