Home

Working Together to Prevent Suicide

**Please check out our trainings page for all of our Spring 2024 QPR and MHFA Trainings**

Chester County’s Suicide Prevention Task Force is a diverse group of mostly volunteers who have been working to prevent suicide since we began as an ad hoc committee in 2005. We are survivors of loss to suicide, mental health and public health professionals, educators, healthcare workers, crisis workers, concerned neighbors and friends. Our membership is open to the public.

We have a pool of trained and certified instructors to deliver the national evidence-based suicide prevention programs, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) from the QPR Institute (qprinstitute.com) and Mental Health First Aid (mentalhealthfirstaid.org/). Since 2006 we have trained thousands of individuals, including parents, educators, coaches, faith-based organizations, and anyone interested in learning about the topic. Since 2015, we have worked with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to train and certify more instructors and deliver QPR to the entire 9th grade class in most of our county school districts. We work with West Chester University to promote and deliver Mental Health First Aid classes.

Other work of the Task Force includes creating awareness campaigns each September for Suicide Prevention Month, producing more than 20 Liv Live Musical Concerts to expand understanding and provide messages of hope and encouragement with music. Most recently, this group launched a Care Team to outreach to individuals and groups who have been on the front line of the pandemic and others who may be in more at-risk situations or professions. This work will continue and grow as we are adjusting to a post-pandemic world.

Our Mission

Chester County Suicide Prevention Task Force’s mission is decreased suicide through increased awareness and education in the community. CCSP Task Force collaborates with the community to develop suicide prevention strategies and works to reduce the risk, stigma and occurrence of suicide in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Crisis Information

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH OR EMOTIONAL CRISIS, CALL THE SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE ANY TIME 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.  ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL, AND MAY BE ANONYMOUS.

SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE Call or Text: 9-8-8

Para ayuda en espaƱol:  9-8-8