Posted by Bill Selzer on Jun 06, 2023

Joining our Friday morning meeting, School Counselor Jason Lippold, Principal Andy Farley and School Psychologist Aimee Schneidewent from Brookfield East High School. They presented the Hope Squad, a school-based peer to peer suicide prevention program, with a mission to reduce youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention. In its sixth year at East, the Squad is comprise of 50 students representing each grade.

Hope Squad members are nominated by their classmates as...

trustworthy peers and trained by advisors. This program empowers students to build meaningful connections with their peers and to create a culture of caring and support within school, community and within themselves.

Why Start a Hope Squad?

· Train staff and community members in youth suicide prevention through evidence-based training.

· Empower the natural helpers in your school through peer-to-peer suicide prevention training.

· Raise awareness of mental health and youth suicide prevention resources.

· Educate students on how to recognize suicide warning signs and respectfully report concerns.

· Train students how to support fellow students who may be struggling.

· Increase connectedness, inclusion, and social-emotional learning skills.

· Increase help-seeking behaviors.

· Reduce suicide attempts.

This program values education, taking initiative, openness, self-care, and community. There is a heavy focus on safety, connectedness, bully prevention, mental wellness, reducing stigma and substance abuse prevention.

Congratulations to Counselor Jason Lippold who received honorary membership into the Elmbrook Rotary and to Principal Andy Farley for receiving the “2023 Secondary Principal of the Year” for the State of Wisconsin.

 

If you would like more information regarding the Hope Squad, visit www.hopesquad.com.

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