Creating a Supportive Environment: Hope Squad Launches at Snake River High School for Mental Health Awareness
- snakeriverlibrary
- 8 minutes ago
- 7 min read
In response to a growing need for connection, support, and mental health awareness, Snake River High School recently launched Hope Squad—a peer-to-peer suicide prevention and support program focused on creating a culture of trust and belonging. Led by dedicated students, staff, and community mentors, the initiative is already making a positive impact on school culture and helping students know they are never alone.
How did you go about selecting the first student to help lead this effort?
This decision was actually pretty easy. We went directly to our student body president and vice president. They were able to put together a few other students from their leadership team, and they helped us plan and secure funding for Hope Squad as well as Hope Week, which included an assembly, a dodgeball tournament, a raffle, and a bake sale. They were truly invaluable to the launching efforts. Huge thank you to Neiley Mangum, Leah Goodwin, Vivian Larsen, Rhev Williams, Paloma Castillo, and other student leaders who helped make this happen. Our adult mentor leaders have also been indispensable. Emily Goodwin played a key role in securing community partnerships. Amber Anderton, Amber Harrison, Wes Carlson, and Benson Isom will be our ongoing Mentors and will lead Hope Squad meetings and trainings for our student members.
What inspired you to bring Hope Squad to the school?
Last spring, we had a tragedy rock our community when we lost a student to suicide. It was and still is a hard thing we are striving to work through. We want to do everything we can to ensure that we are providing help to any and all who may need it so that this may be prevented in the future. We do not want to lose any more students and will do whatever it takes to make Snake River High School a place of learning AND refuge where students can lean on their peers and trusted adults when they need help.
How does Hope Squad fit into the overall support system at our school?
Hope Squad will naturally overlap with our student leadership efforts. It will also be incorporated into teacher in-service training throughout the year, even if it's not mentioned specifically. As we improve our school culture by making connections and improving relationships, we are using Hope Squad to aid in prevention efforts. Anything we do that builds overall respect and trust in our school systems will align with the goals of Hope Squad.
What role do you see (if any) the library playing in supporting this initiative?
The school and community library is a safe space for many of our students and community members. It is a place where people come for peace, belonging, and even advice/help. Hope Squad will partner with the library in their efforts to support and serve our community and students. We plan on utilizing the library's skilled employees to help with campaigns and advertisements, as well as providing another avenue for connections and relationships with trusted adults for many of our students who love being in the library.
What impact have you already seen on students or school culture?
Working with the above-mentioned students in our launching efforts has been amazing. I have seen their excitement and "buy-in" grow for this program. They have invested their time and efforts to make sure Hope Squad not only gets started, but sustains itself for the future. Many of these students are seniors and will be gone in a few short weeks, but they are still excited to see this program flourish and have a positive effect on their peers who will still be at their alma mater long after they are gone. They understand the importance of peer-to-peer trust and relationships and recognize that they can have a huge impact in helping other students connect with the resources they need. It has also had an effect on our adult mentors. They want to improve relationships, trust, and overall culture at Snake River High School. They are invested in becoming a trusted adult and making the connections needed to help keep our students safe and healthy. It will be exciting to see how the small and simple things we implement as adults AND students will continue to make strides for Snake River High School to be a welcoming and safe place for all humans who enter her doors.
Leah Goodwin - SRHS Senior Student Body President & Student Library Aid
How did you feel when you were first approached to help start the Hope Squad?
When Erica Marshall came to me and asked if I could start Hope Squad I didn't even know what Hope Squad was. She explained to me the basics but I went home and did lots of research. I kept getting more excited because I thought our school could really benefit from a program like this. It hit hard because my class lost our friend Bridger Wherli last year. That was extremely hard for everyone and with the program we hope that nobody ever feels alone again.
What did it take to bring Hope Squad to life at school?
I put together a team of my good friends in the Snake River High School Leadership team. I asked Neiley Mangum (senior) , Vivian Larsen (senior), Rhev Williams (junior), and Paloma Castillo (sophomore) to help me. I wanted a variety of ages because this is a program that will need to be continued and the younger classes are the ones who will do that.
How is Hope Squad funded--what inspired those ideas, and how did students respond?
Erica had already set up a time for whoever I chose to help me to give a presentation to the Bingham Healthcare Foundation. It was a presentation to hopefully get the money needed to start up this program in our school. We had multiple practices and eventually gave our speech to their board consisting of around 15 people. It was nerve wracking, but they gave us the money needed. The money went to training the 4 teachers that are in charge for the nation wide online program with weekly lessons, and any other small costs.
What funds the Hope Squad is Hope Week. A week long of school activities and fundraisers. We had only given our presentation in January and had Hope Week in February. The hardest part was planning an entire week so quickly. Luckily my team, the 4 adults (Wes Carlson, Amber Harrison, Amber Anderton, and Benson Is on), and our councilors helped us. We had a very successful bake sale table the entire week. It was all so delicious. At that table we had reached out to businesses to donate items we could auction off. We had Texas Roadhouse items, pizza pie cafe vouchers, gift cards, our art teacher Mr. Goodworth even donated a large painting. We raffled off parking spots for the rest of the school year and even principal Carter's parking spot! There was also a pieing contest. We had a list of teachers and students and whichever one you wanted to see get pied in the face you could put money in their jar. It was so funny to see 2 students and 2 teachers get pied in the face at an assembly.
Another activity was our huge dodgeball tournament! This was a huge success with a teachers team and multiple student teams. The Junior high school was very supportive and came to watch too with a $1 entry fee. It was in the main gym, with the real shock clock, and score going. So fun to see our school come together and have lots of fun.
What does being part of launching Hope Squad mean to you personally?
Being part of the Hope Squad is not something I ever thought I could say. It means a lot to me that I was able to help and start up a program to help kids know that mental health is a real struggle. People struggle in silence but it is comforting to know that this program is making it easier to talk about. I don't want people to struggle silently, so it makes me so happy that we have selected students that are willing to talk with people about how they are doing. I believe this will help many students now and in the future! I'm so glad I was able to see the beginning of this program.
What was the biggest challenge in getting things off the ground?
The hardest part was planning and initiating these activities. It was amazing to see the ideas that the teachers and councilors had but also us students. When you have the difference in age groups you get lots of different ideas. Neiley and I researched about what other schools did for activities and bake sale was a very popular and rewarding one. We gave it a shot and had students and teachers bring baked goods to sell.
Of the events you've held which one stands out as the most memorable or fun, and why?
I loved the idea of teacher vs. student volleyball but thinking this through we unanimously decided dodgeball would be better. It was much more competitive and simple. The teachers had a blast and the student teams did too. Not as many high school students came to watch the games but many participated. Then like I said earlier the Jr. high had around 100 student come and watch so there was still an audience. I loved seeing how many teachers and students were willing to work together to bring Hope Week to life in a lovely way so we can continue Hope Squad.
I loved watching the dodgeball tournament, having fun dress up days each day like tacky Tuesday, wear red Wednesday, travel tees Tuesday, comfy day Thursday etc. but my favorite was the Bake sale table. I loved making yummy baked goods and seeing students support Hope Squad and buy them. I was scared that the bake sale wouldn't be successful and wouldn't get enough donated goods. I was extremely surprised and happy to see that everyday there were so many options to choose from.
Ashlynn Pierce - SRHS Student, Student Library Aid & Nominated Member of the Hope Squad
How did it feel to be nominated by your peers for Hope Squad?
I am delighted my peers nominated me for Hope Squad. I'm excited to make new connections with my peers. While helping others, I have learned that people often need a friend to connect with, someone who is friendly and kind to them. As a member of the Hope Squad, I’m happy to be the friendly face in the hall people can count on.
Picture Gallery from one of the Hope Squad Fundraising Events.
The launch of Hope Squad at Snake River High School is more than just the start of a program—it is a commitment to creating a culture of connection, support, and hope. Through the efforts of students, staff, mentors, and community partners, Hope Squad is helping students know they are never alone and that their mental health matters.
What makes this initiative so meaningful is the compassion and leadership shown by students who want to make a difference for their peers now and in the future. Their dedication is creating a lasting legacy of kindness, trust, and support.
As Hope Squad continues to grow, Snake River High School is becoming not only a place of learning, but also a place where every student can feel safe, valued, and hopeful
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