Hope Squad helps high school students connect peers in crisis with adult support

HILLIARD, Ohio (WSYX) — At one central Ohio high school, students aren’t just learning math and science — they’re learning how to save lives.

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At Hilliard Darby High School, a peer-led group called “Hope Squad” is reshaping how students approach mental health, equipping teens with the tools to recognize when a friend may be struggling and the confidence to speak up.

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After the final bell rings, a different kind of lesson begins.

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This group of students meets not for grades, but for something far more personal. They call themselves the Hope Squad, and for many at their school, they’ve become exactly that: a ray of hope.

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“It is really a peer-led group around suicide awareness,” said school social worker Lauren Hickson.

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Hickson helps guide the group’s mission, teaching students how to identify warning signs in their peers and respond appropriately.

“[We focus on] how to spot warning signs of peers in distress, and really giving our high school students the tools to know how to recognize depressive symptoms." - Lauren Hickson

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While the work is serious, students are constantly reminded they are not alone in carrying the responsibility.

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“This is not your responsibility you are not the therapist, please tell somebody — we will take care of it,” Hickson emphasized.

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Students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and look out for classmates who might otherwise go unnoticed. Often, it’s subtle changes — a social media post, a message, or a gut feeling — that prompt them to act.

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“A lot of kids come to us with different social media scenarios sometimes it's Instagram, sometimes it's TikTok. And to them something feels off the adults take it from there,” said school social worker Morgan Skaff.

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Skaff says students involved in Hope Squad consistently show a strong desire to support their peers.

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“They do a really good job of just wanting to be there for other people,” she said.

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The mission remains simple: look out for one another.

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“You never know what's happening behind closed doors,” said student Layla Hayes. “I want to be one of those people anyone can come talk to.”

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For some students, the impact is immediate and personal. Jordan Keomahavong recalls helping a friend in need.

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“We sat down and we had like a good talk and afterwards they were back — like the lights switched back on,” he said.

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Faculty say those moments reflect exactly what the program is designed to do.

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“I think you guys are doing what Hope Squad is meant to do so good job,” Skaff told students.

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In a time when many teens silently struggle, these students are proving that sometimes, the most important lessons aren’t found in textbooks — but in simply being there when it matters most.

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Originally published at https://abc6onyourside.com/good-day-columbus/healthy-minds-hope-squad-mental-health-support-high-school-students-connect-peers-in-crisis-with-adult-support-hilliard-darby-hs-awareness-suicide-prevention-988