Peer-to-peer support group launched to address student mental health
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Schools across the country have reported an increase in suicide rates and mental health related behaviors. Now local mental health providers are teaming up with area school districts to lower these rates.
In an effort to address growing mental health needs for students several area school districts will be participating in the Hope Squad Program.
Hope Squad is a peer-to -peer suicide prevention initiative designed to improve mental wellness support for students.
Kyle Schott is a licensed professional counselor and the Administrative Project Specialist at the Community Counseling Center. He shares that they started looking into programs after education leaders locally saw a need for something like a peer support mental health group. The Community Counseling Center found the Hope Program and secured funding.
“It is new to our area, and it is an evidence-based curriculum that is used for support peer suicide prevention program in schools” says Schott. “Thats what it was originally designed for but it’s much more than a suicide prevention program.”
So far Perryville High School, Jackson schools, Cape Central High school, Cape Central Junior High and Cape Central Academy will all be participating in the program. Cape Central secured an additional grant for the program as well.
The funding was generously provided through two grants from Community Foundation of the Ozarks and will support the group for two years. Schott shares why peer to peer support can be influential.
“Kids are already having conversations and really, really tough conversations about their mental health or about substance use or about thoughts of suicide.” says Schott. “They’re already having these discussions. Now why don’t we give these kids who are the trusted kids, the ones who are being talked to by other kids. Why are we not giving them the skills they need to know ‘What do I do next with somebody who came to me and told me they are thinking about killing themselves.’ “We don‘t want them to keep that secret, right. We want them to feel ok to explain to the student that’s really struggling, “You know what that’s ok let’s go talk to a designated teacher who might be the Hope Squad Advisor.”
Students selected to help in the program are often nominated by their peers as trustworthy and approachable. They then receive training on what do after a peer opens up to them. According to data released by the Hope Squad Initiative once the program was implemented schools often saw a decrease in suicidal ideation and increased help seeking behavior in students.
Schott shares that programs such as Hope Squad are needed now more than ever.
“It’s much higher than it ever has been. I’ve been doing this stuff for well over 30 years and the need is so tremendously higher than any other time that I’ve ever seen” says Schott.
