HOPE Squad brings suicide prevention work to Chelan schools

Members of the Chelan schools’ HOPE Squad delivered a slide show presentation to the June 9 meeting of the board of Lake Chelan School District (LCSD). HOPE Squad is a school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program.

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HOPE Squad has been in Chelan schools for four years and is currently comprised of 33 student members, 13 from high school and 20 from middle school. They are peer-selected for being confidential, easy to talk with, and supportive. Members are trained to recognize signs of distress and to connect students with trusted adults for help.

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The group operates on a multi-tiered system of support, where Tier One involves spreading the message through school events such as Unity Day, Hope Week, Mental Health Awareness Week, and select sports competitions. Tiers two and three identify students experiencing mental health crises at both the high and middle school levels. Through interactions and avenues like social media, a dozen students were identified and received support and outside counseling.

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HOPE Squad is already making plans for next year. High school member nominations have already resulted in six students and four from middle school. The group will meet before the 2025-26 school year to train and prepare for the first day of school activities.

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Chelan’s Hope Squad has relied on grant funding that will end this year. Members advised the school board that the cost to support HOPE’s work for the school year is $600 each for the high school and middle school programs.

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HOPE Squad was founded in 2004 by Dr. Greg Hudnall, a Utah high school principal and since then has now spread to thousands of schools across the U.S. and Canada. Hope Squad came to North Central Washington in May 2021.Wenatchee-based Together! For Youth (togethercd.org) coordinates Hope Squads in public secondary schools in Okanogan, Grant, Douglas, and Chelan Counties.

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Originally published at https://www.lakechelanmirror.com/stories/hope-squad-brings-suicide-prevention-work-to-chelan-schools,128447