The Hope Squad: The Successful Suicide Prevention Program for Students

Hold On. Persuade. Empower. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 12 to 18. As a high school principal, Dr. Gregory A. Hudnall was a first responder or consultant to dozens of student suicides and devoted himself to bringing hope to despondent teens. In 2004, with the help of his community and school district, Dr. Hudnall created the Hope Squad, a task force designed to help save lives by identifying the key struggles that can lead a person to suicide. As of 2018, Hope Squads can be found in 284 Utah schools and countless others across the country. Learn how you can join the effort to prevent youth suicides with lifesaving tips such as · Warning signs and risk factors · Common misconceptions about suicide · What to say and what not to say to someone considering suicide · The dos and don’ts of reporting a potential suicide · The role of social media and the internet in the rise of youth suicide Every life is precious, and of all deaths, suicide may be the most preventable. It takes a village to raise a child, and in the case of youth suicide, it takes an entire community to save one.

Dr. Gregory A. Hudnall is a former high school principal, student service director, and associate superintendent with the Provo City School District. He has been involved with suicide prevention for the past twenty years. He is the founder of HOPE4UTAH, a nonprofit grassroots community organization dedicated to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in Utah. The school-based program HOPE Squads has been responsible for over 2,500 students referred for help and is in over 300 schools.