SOUTHEAST MISSOURI – Sometimes numbers speak louder than words. In all of 2025, the Community Counseling Center (CCC) trained 22 people in QPR suicide prevention. In the first eight weeks of 2026 alone, that number jumped to 109—a nearly 400% increase.
This surge in training means more neighbors, co-workers, and friends across our five-county area are now equipped with life-saving skills. This growth is vital, as it helps support the hundreds of crisis encounters our staff manages every year.
“The support from the Foundation is what makes these sessions possible,” said Rick Strait, Suicide Prevention Coordinator. By covering the cost of training materials and supplies, the Foundation allows CCC staff to focus entirely on teaching. Michelle Ramsey, Executive Foundation Director at the CCC Foundation, credits the community’s generosity for this success.
“We are incredibly grateful to our generous donors and corporate partners who help fund the cost of these QPR trainings,” said Ramsey. “Their investment is a direct investment in the safety of our communities. Because of their support, we can provide these high-quality mental health tools to anyone who needs them, regardless of their ability to pay.”
With another large-scale training scheduled for March, the Center is on track for a record-breaking year. By empowering the community, the CCC and the Foundation are working together to bridge the gap in mental health care and save lives.
About the Community Counseling Center Foundation: The Community Counseling Center Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting the life-changing work of the Community Counseling Center in its five-county service area in Southeast Missouri. The Foundation exists to bridge funding gaps and expand vital programs, ensuring that accessible, high-quality mental health and substance abuse services are available to all who need them. By providing resources to go beyond basic needs, the Foundation directly improves the quality of care for over 470 professional and support staff operating across 31 physical sites.