Jaime Angelini, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Statewide Director of Suicide Prevention, Crisis Response, and Special Projects provides Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention gatekeeper training.
We can all play a role in teen suicide prevention. The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) is pleased to announce the continuation of a program entitled, A Focus on Youth Suicide Prevention, featuring no-cost suicide prevention training for youth-serving organizations and people who work with youth in the Garden State. It is made possible through the renewal of a $25,000 grant from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. In its first three years, this funding enabled the MHANJ to provide training to more than 3,190 youth-serving organizations. Last year, an additional 778 people were trained with the expansion of this grant to include individuals from the community.
About Youth Suicide
Suicide is recognized as a public health issue. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System it was the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10-to-14 and the third leading cause of death for young adults aged 15-to-24, with more than 6,530 deaths in the United States in 2022. Despite this alarming data, there is hope that suicides are preventable through collaborative, evidence-based interventions.
About QPR Training
A Focus on Youth Suicide Prevention centers around Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) a nationally recognized, evidence-based training program which is offered in English and Spanish. This approach empowers community gatekeepers and others who work with youth with the skills needed to create or enhance a safety net for young people at risk of suicide. The project directly supports our mission to promote the highest standards of mental health for both youth and adults across our state,” said Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey.
Teen Suicide Prevention, page 2 of 2 “Last year, by expanding training to reach more gatekeepers and offering bilingual sessions, we strengthened the network of individuals equipped to recognize the warning signs of suicide and provide support to youth in our communities,” stated Jaime Angelini, the Association’s Statewide Director of Suicide Prevention, Crisis Response and Special Projects. “Participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. These sessions make it clear that while many people want to support someone in crisis, they often lack the confidence or know-how to take that first step. QPR provides practical guidance—teaching how to spot signs of suicide risk, engage in meaningful conversations, and connect individuals with the help they need. Our goal through this training is to empower participants to face difficult conversations with courage. Above all, we emphasize that suicide prevention starts with offering hope. I genuinely believe this work is saving lives, and that belief is what drives me every day.”
Organizations and individuals that serve youth which would like to participate in this teen suicide prevention program are encouraged to contact Ms. Angelini by calling her at 609-576-9498 or emailing her at jangelini@mhanj.org. “Horizon is a proud partner of the Mental Health Association of New Jersey,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “Their work to address and raise awareness for mental health is incredibly important and more critical now than ever.”
About The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, is focused on making New Jersey healthier by supporting non-profit organizations that expand access to health care, remove barriers to good health and increase opportunities for everyone to achieve their best health, no matter who they are or where they live. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit HorizonBlue.com/Foundation. About the Mental Health Association in New Jersey The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization that strives for people to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services. The Association is headquartered in Union County, with additional offices in Atlantic, Hudson, Ocean and Union Counties and affiliates in Essex, Monmouth, Morris, and Passaic Counties. For more information call 800-367-8850 or visit https://www.mhanj.org.
