Superior High School peers connect in nature to prevent suicides

Members of the Superior High School Hope Squad spent Oct. 10 surrounded by nature.

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The 24 students involved in the peer-to-peer suicide prevention program learned core lessons about how to help their fellow students while soaking up fall sunshine at the Superior School District's forest.

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This is the fifth year the Superior High School Hope Squad has been providing students in need with trained peer support.

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Juniors Leah Gavin and Abigail Watt have been members of the Hope Squad for three years.

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"It's a lot about the signs of suicide and, you know, those hard conversations that have to be had," Gavin said.

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"You never really want to have to use these skills, but when you have to, it takes out just worrying if you're doing the right thing," Watt said.

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Superior High School social worker Jane Larson said peer suicide prevention programs were started because many struggling youth aren't reaching out to adults. In Superior High School's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 49% of respondents said they reach out to a peer first.

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"So if they're struggling and they're reaching out to peers, we need to have a group of people, kids' peers, who understand what's going on and how to help," Larson said.

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The fact that the lessons fell on World Mental Health Day was a happy coincidence, she said.

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"Training a group of kids not to be therapists, not to be counselors, but to recognize signs and symptoms and to know how to approach somebody and, you know, ask what's going on, and then help them get to a trusted adult," Larson said.

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School counselor Tiffany Mattson said the Hope Squad has been a game changer.

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In the five years before launching the program, the school suffered a loss from suicide annually.

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"Ms. Larson said a couple of times that when we did introduce the Hope Squad, it was our first year that nobody had died by suicide in our school, which was, you know, it's a really important, impactful thing," Gavin said.

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There haven't been any suicides during the school year since, according to Mattson. "It's huge," she said.

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The number of high school students who reported on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey that they had suicidal thoughts is also on the decline, according to Larson. The percentage has decreased from 22% when Larson joined the school district in 2018 to 17% in 2023.

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The majority of Hope Squad members were nominated by their peers through a school-wide survey. Teens were asked to name three peers who they thought were good listeners that they would feel comfortable reaching out to for help.

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This year, students were allowed to self-nominate or get referrals from teachers. That's how sophomore Colten Osterlund joined.

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"I would like to let people know that we are here to help," he said. "Our main goal is to make people feel inclusive to make people feel like they belong and like they have someone they can talk to regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, any of that stuff."

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Hope Squad members said the training has made them more aware of others.

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"It just makes it a lot more comfortable. It makes people feel safe and, you know, it makes them more inclined to reach out," Gavin said.

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"You don't need to be there to fix the problem. You just need to be there for them," Watt said.

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The Hope Squad is one of multiple initiatives aimed at increasing mental health awareness and resources at the high school.

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All certified school staff have gone through "Question, Persuade, Refer" suicide prevention training. Mental health first aid classes are offered to teachers and administrators.

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A Teen Mental Health First Aid class has been offered to the junior class for several years. This year, sophomores will be included. Starting next year, it will be part of the sophomore health class.