HOPE Squad brings suicide prevention work to Chelan schools

The Chelan schools’ HOPE Squad delivered a presentation on its suicide prevention initiatives at the Lake Chelan School District board meeting on June 9. This peer-to-peer program, active for four years, includes 33 student members trained to identify signs of distress among their peers. Through a multi-tiered support system, the Squad has successfully identified and assisted a dozen students in crisis this year. As they prepare for the 2025-26 school year, they are recruiting new members, with nominations already yielding ten candidates. The program faces financial challenges, as its grant funding will end this year, necessitating $600 to support both high school and middle school efforts.

Founded in 2004, HOPE Squad has expanded to thousands of schools across the U. S. and Canada, arriving in North Central Washington in May 2021. The program is coordinated by Wenatchee-based Together! For Youth, which oversees similar initiatives in surrounding counties.

Continued support for HOPE Squad is critical for maintaining mental health resources in Chelan schools.