Students and advisors from four local Hope Squads gathered for a collaborative kickoff event on Monday, Sept. 22, uniting members from Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley high schools, as well as Charles Arthur Hughes and Mack Lyon middle schools.

Hope Squad is a vital peer support program that trains students to identify and assist classmates facing mental health challenges, with a strong emphasis on suicide prevention. The program addresses an alarming trend, as teen suicide rates have climbed significantly in recent years. Nominated by their peers, Hope Squad members learn to listen, recognize warning signs of distress, and connect students to trusted adults and resources. The training focuses on building empathy, developing resilience, preventing bullying, and ultimately, changing the school’s culture to reduce stigma around mental health.

At the kickoff, student leaders from each school shared their plans for the upcoming year. Their creative initiatives are designed to foster connection and belonging. Virgin Valley High School, for example, has implemented a QR code system in restrooms that directs students to bios of Hope Squad members, making it easier to find a peer with similar interests to talk to. At Mack Lyon Middle School, activities like the “Positive Rocks Project,” where students decorate and place rocks with uplifting messages around campus, serve as daily reminders of kindness and hope.

The evening was also dedicated to practical training. After a team-building game that required communication and cooperation, students broke into groups for a critical assignment. They were tasked with developing a positive intervention strategy for a fictional student considering suicide, forcing them to think critically about how to change the story and create a hopeful outcome.

For the students involved, the mission is personal. “It makes me feel good knowing I can help people every day, one person at a time,” said Meghan Romano, a Moapa Valley High School freshman who has been in the program since sixth grade.

After its first three years were covered by a special CCSD grant, the program now relies on fundraising and appreciates the support of parents and community members to continue its important work.

Information about Hope Squad can be found at www.hopesquad.com. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by dialing 988.