Submitted by Allison Behnke, Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services
(July 25, 2025) — For teenagers and young adults in Haddam and Killingworth, August often means a time of transition and a time of change. Some are going back to high school and sports/activities, while others are moving on to college for the first time, returning for another year, or moving on to another path of adulthood. Times of transition offer an opportunity for our youth to gain new supports, skills and resources to strengthen their well-being and those around them.
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services is partnering with the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness to offer a QPR Suicide Prevention and Naloxone training specifically for the community’s older teens and young adults (ages 16-25)
Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in Connecticut and the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. (Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention).
In 2023, a Youth Voices Count Survey detailed data related to mental health among Haddam-Killingworth 9th-12th grade youth. Results showed that 33.1% of youth (grades 9-12) reported having anxiety in the past year “always” or “almost always.” Additionally, 17.2% of youth reported feeling sad or hopeless so much that it stopped them from doing usual activities two or more weeks in a row; 8.6% reported having considered suicide in the past year. This teen/young adult-specific training is an opportunity for youth to learn more, gain skills, and get resources.
QPR: Question. Persuade. Refer. is an easy-to-follow suicide prevention framework which can be learned in only 60-90 minutes. Through QPR training, individuals will come away with knowledge of how to ask someone if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts and help them in getting support through appropriate referral resources. QPR offers hope through positive actions. In addition, participants will receive an overview of the opioid epidemic, the dangers of fentanyl, and the way naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Both training programs are designed to empower our young people with tools that could save a life.
This free training session on will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Haddam Volunteer Firehouse and will include a pizza dinner and every participant will be entered into a gift card raffle to be drawn at the end of the evening. If you are between 18-25 or have a child age 16+, please register at www.hkyfs.org/event/ For more information please call HKYFS at 860-345-7498.
