A Closer Look at Hope Squad’s Schoolwide Lessons

When we think about suicide prevention in schools, it’s easy to only picture the moments of crisis, and while Hope Squad Members are trained to recognize warning signs and connect peers to help, our deepest hope is that they rarely need to use those skills. That’s because Hope Squad is more than a crisis response; it’s a student-led, adult-supported movement to create schools where every student feels safe, connected, and valued.

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Prevention starts long before a crisis. It begins with the culture of a school: how students feel when they walk through the doors, the relationships they form in classrooms, and the countless small moments of kindness that shape their sense of belonging.

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At the heart of Hope Squad is a simple but transformative belief: schools thrive when empathy, connection, and wellness are woven into everyday life.

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By equipping schools with the tools to build this kind of culture, we’re not just preparing for emergencies; we’re cultivating a foundation of hope that can last for generations. To truly make an impact, all students need access to these protective skills. That’s why we launched our Tier 1 lessons: Schoolwide learning experiences that bring knowledge and strategies to every student, ensuring prevention isn’t limited to a few but embraced by the entire community.

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The Hope Squad Tier 1 lessons are designed around three central themes that strengthen empathy and connectedness across all grade levels.

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Lesson 1: Understanding Mental Health

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Elementary: Students learn what it means to grow a healthy mind, explore mental well-being, and practice simple strategies they can use to support their own mental health.

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Secondary: Students engage in conversations about mental health, explore the impact of stigma, and build empathy as the foundation for connection.

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Lesson 2: Noticing Others

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This lesson centers on curiosity and awareness. Inspired by a conversation with Advisor Eric Burr, we emphasize the importance of noticing when peers are “not acting like themselves.” Subtle shifts in behavior can be an early sign that someone is struggling.

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Elementary: Students focus on noticing changes in others and telling a trusted adult right away.

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Secondary: Students build on this by learning about the impact of judgement and exclusion on others, and how to practice intentional curiosity for others, fostering a culture where people feel truly seen.

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Lesson 3: Responding with Care

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Elementary: Students return to their own internal world, practicing emotional regulation and learning how to express feelings in healthy vs. unhealthy ways. Allowing them to process their own feelings can help create a culture where students show up not only for others but for themselves as well.

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Secondary: Students learn practical bystander skills, specifically how to approach someone who may be struggling, and how to guide them to a trusted adult.

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The Heart of Tier 1 Lessons

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Together, these lessons form a framework that equips students not only with knowledge, but with the capacity to notice, care, and connect.

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By investing in everyday empathy and peer support, schools can create environments where students feel safe, valued, and less likely to reach a crisis point.