Westchester, OH -- Students at Lakota West High School have a new outlet to get help if they are suffering from a mental health disorder or contemplating suicide.

Hope Squad is currently made up of about 50 students who have gone through extensive training since the beginning of the current school year.

Last year, students at the 3,000 strong high school and freshmen campus selected peers to be members in Hope Squad. Then the schools principal selected the final 50 to begin the program.

  • Lakota West High School and freshmen campus has around 3,000 students
  • 50 students in grades 9 through 12 are members of Hope Squad
  • Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in children ages 12 to 22

Hope Squad started in Utah and aims to prevent youth suicide but also ease the stigma of young people who suffer from mental illness.

Lakota West High School is one of the first schools in Ohio to sign on to the program.

The students work to identify and refer students who have mental illnesses or are showing signs of suicide.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 24, according to The Parent Resource Foundation at The Jason Foundation. Four in five teens who attempt suicide show visible warning signs.

 

 

 “I have had someone who came to talk to me about someone who was being bullied,” Lakota West sophomore Elaina Bishop told Spectrum News 1.

Bishop, a Hope Squad member, found the student who was being bullied and went with them to a school counselor.

Christopher Dunn is also a Hope Squad member and his knowledge about what to do with a troubled student provided assistance to a student from another school.

“I told my Hope Squad leaders and they got in contact with the school. And we got the boy help.”

Michael Anderson is a counselor at Lakota West High School and oversees the Hope Squad. He says the goal of Hope Squad is two-fold.

““The goal is to bring hope to all the students at Lakota West in different ways,” Anderson said. “And that's what is great about it is that our students lead this. It's a student led organization. We as adults kind of step back. The second part of this is about mental health awareness.”

Anderson said the kids will complete January early next year.

When Hope Squad members make referrals the counselors get involved. Lakota West also has the advantage of an on-site therapist through a program at UC Health.

Bishop shakes off the perception that Hope Squad members are spying on fellow students. She says it's about helping people and helping her school.

“I think it's a really good idea,” Bishop said. “And I feel like it's going to help so many people who are maybe scared of their mental health or don't know much about it. And bring hope to a lot of people.”

Lakota West also works with other schools and a Cincinnati non-profit for resources and training. Hope Squad will eventually go beyond referring students to counselors. It will also organize school events, raise awareness, and hold fund raising opportunities.