Lincoln Middle Schoolers Promote Mental Health Awareness on World Suicide Prevention Day

LINCOLN, Neb. — On World Suicide Prevention Day, students at Park Middle School in Lincoln took a proactive approach to mental health awareness. The school's Hope Squad, a group dedicated to promoting hope and mental wellness, engaged their peers and staff by encouraging them to write messages of hope during lunch.

‍

Richelle Dowding, who has been the Hope Squad facilitator for four years, emphasized the importance of the group's mission. "Students work with peers to promote hope and mental wellness. The overall goal of Hope Squad is to reduce stigma around mental health as well as suicide," she said.

‍

Dowding highlighted the critical nature of addressing youth suicide, noting that suicide deaths among 10- to 24-year-olds increased by 62% from 2007 to 2021, according to Yale School of Medicine. "The wonderful news is that suicide is declining but it remains the second leading cause of death ages 10-24. This is why it's amazing for Hope Squad, a national organization, to be so apparent in our schools," she said.

‍

Currently, the Hope Squad at Park Middle School consists of five participants, but there are plans to expand. "The more we talk about suicide and suicide prevention, the more it reduces the stigma around mental illness and students can get help sooner, and the ultimate goal is to prevent suicide," said Dowding.

‍

The Hope Squad follows a specific curriculum to introduce the sensitive topic to youth. "Hope Squad does a very good job of knowing that a lot of them are elementary or middle school students, so we use language they can understand and then can relate to and then act as a Hope Squad member," explained Dowding.

‍

The messages of hope will remain on display throughout the year. Dowding encourages students dealing with suicidal thoughts to seek help from a trusted adult or call 988.

‍

Originally published at https://nebraska.tv/news/local/lincoln-middle-schoolers-promote-mental-health-awareness-on-world-suicide-prevention-day