St. James donates $25,000 to suicide prevention program

In a ceremony on Wednesday at Ramsay School, officials with Intermountain Health St. James Hospital donated $25,000 to the Butte Education Foundation to help launch Hope Squad programs across Butte-Silver Bow schools.

‍

Attending the ceremony was Jim O’Neill, county superintendent of schools and vice president of the Butte Education Foundation, who said the Hope Squad provides peer-to-peer support and suicide prevention for our students.

‍

“Students will be nominated by their peers to participate,” O’Neill said. “From there, the squad will meet regularly with trained advisers to talk and learn about mental health.”

‍

This donation comes after the 2024 Montana Prevention Needs Assessment surveyed Butte students from grades 8-12. Out of the 634 students who participated, more than 30% indicated that they have considered suicide.

‍

Karen Costello, president of St. James Hospital, believes this program will help reduce the stigma around suicide and instead will empower students to ask for help when they need it.

‍

“Suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among students, which is a reality that calls us to listen more closely, and provide support and understanding,” said Costello. “Students will be taught age-appropriate suicide prevention topics including how to connect peers to help and hope.

‍

The need for this program was echoed by school staff, who emphasized that when students are struggling, they are more likely to share with other children rather than their parents.

‍

“Kids are already familiar with each other,” said Chris Kellogg, Ramsay principal. “They’ll be able to realize that they can talk to their peers about things that are on their mind and have the confidence that they’ll be heard.”

‍

O’Neill agreed and said schools where the Hope Squad Program has been implemented, like in Dillon, are already seeing the benefit.

‍

Students selected for the Hope Squad Program will be nominated by their peers before being reviewed and approved by staff and the parents of each nominated student.

‍

With funding from St. James Hospital, the Butte School District plans to start implementing trainings for students and advisors after the holidays.

‍

Originally published at https://www.montanarightnow.com/news/state/st-james-donates-25-000-to-suicide-prevention-program/article_6980291c-5699-5bd1-a546-108f29a396cd.html