It’s a topic people tend to shy away from. It’s not a happy conversation. It’s not light.

But suicide prevention is a subject that deserves attention and respect.

To help with lead this conversation, the University of Nebraska Office Professionals Association is holding a Question, Persuade and Refer Gatekeeper training.

The training will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 19 in the East Union. It will feature Scott Stemper, a prevention specialist with Region V Systems.

The training will teach attendees how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope and know how to get help and save a life.

A Gatekeeper, according to the Surgeon General’s National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

This can be anyone from a friend to a police officer.

Anyone can learn the steps to saving a life and this training will allow attendees to truly understand how they can be part of saving someone’s life.