Public Invited to Suicide Prevention Event on Feb. 8

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death in Minnesota for young people age 15 to 35, second only to automobile accidents (2012). In light of this devastating statistic, Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minn., in partnership with the Christopher Benz Foundation, invites the public to a free suicide prevention presentation and training event on Monday, Feb. 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The event will focus on the “QPR” approach, which stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer.” Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people acquainted with the QPR method can learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.

Janet Benz will be the featured speaker. The Christopher Benz Foundation is named in honor of her son, Christopher, who died by suicide in 2007 when he was 17 years old. The foundation aims to connect communities in efforts to foster healthy teenagers and young adults by providing education and resources in schools and to raise awareness about the prevention of teenage suicide. Visit christopherbenzfoundation.org to learn more.

The mission of Calvary Lutheran Church is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Established in 1946, Calvary offers six weekly worship services and a wide variety of activities for children, youth and adults. For more information, visit calvary.org or call 763-545-5659.

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