This year we trained hundreds of our students to be a part of our Hope Squad Team. This is a school based peer to peer suicide prevention program. Our Hope Squad Teams are made up of students selected by their peers. They are trained to watch for at-risk students, provide friendship, identify suicide-warning signs, and seek help from adults. Hope Squad members are NOT taught to act as counselors, but are educated on recognizing suicide warning signs and how to properly and respectfully report concerns to an adult. The Hope Squads have been doing amazing things in our schools and are already helping our students.
We know that mental health concerns and issues don’t just end as we close our doors for the summer. We want to give our community some resources for when a friend, child or neighbor needs help. Here is some information that Hope Squad has shared with us.
If someone is in imminent danger you must call 911. Warning signs would be if someone says, “I’ve decided to kill myself,” or “I wish I were dead.” It could also be if they want to harm someone else.
If there is no imminent danger, but it is possible, you should still contact the police.
Hilliard PD – 614-876-7321
Dublin PD – 614-889-1112
Columbus PD – 614-645-4545
Indirect warning signs could be if someone says, “I’m tired of my life,” or “My family would be better off without me.”
Please, talk with your children and keep an open dialogue. Please, call for help when you need it. This is a concern we share with our community, and together we can combat this and get our students the help they need.
