HOPE Squad is a countrywide organization dedicated to spreading awareness about mental health among students with a focus on suicide prevention. Since 2022, the students of the Centerville High School (CHS) HOPE Squad have led the charge to create a personalized and positive approach, utilizing the importance of an open ear every school day.
There are nine HOPE Squad advisors, including teachers and CHS counselors Beth Mires, Amy Hilliard, Beth Buck and Christina Weaver. Every student in the HOPE Squad is handpicked by their peers during their freshman year of high school.
“Their peers truly look up to them,” Intervention Counselor Beth Mires states. “These are the kids who were nominated by their fellow students. It’s an honor and means a lot.”
Students begin their HOPE Squad training during freshman year and continue through their senior year. While HOPE Squad’s national office offers curriculum and great resources for CHS advisors to utilize, it’s the students themselves who brainstorm all of their yearly schoolwide activities that spread the word on the lifesaving lessons and easy-to-remember acronyms they are taught.
“We use these acronyms to create awareness for people. It helps them remember we have a HOPE Squad and what they can do for someone who is struggling,” CHS senior Gavin Culter explains.
The H.O.P.E acronym the students are taught is: “Heads up, Offer support, Provide resources and Empower peers,” according to the HOPE Squad website.
“I definitely learned a lot about how to help people and what the right next step is. If someone needs help, I know when to get an adult or use one of the procedures to help them,” shares David Zhang, CHS senior.
Centerville’s HOPE Squad has accomplished an impressive list of outreach strategies. Making awareness posters that list helpline numbers, adding awareness magnets to every Centerville bus, attending retreats at TJ’s Place of Hope and speaking at CHS sporting events are just a few examples of the club’s devotion to the cause.
“Walking around our school, you can see the posters and HOPE Squad members at the door greeting kids, building empathy and promoting kindness, and that’s what we are trying to do,” Intervention Counselor Amy Hilliard adds.
The group’s most anticipated student event at CHS is HOPE Week, which takes place from November 3 to 7 this year. Modeling the event after spirit week, HOPE Squad encourages students to wear theme-inspired outfits and participate in lunch activities. They also begin everyone’s day by opening the front doors and greeting all students. This gives students across social circles time to feel connected.
For this year’s motto, the squad is reminding students to “dig deep and find hope” by using buckets of candy to dig through as a fun, interactive reminder.
“One of the core beliefs of HOPE Squad is to have a good balance of being serious, having fun together and just being a positive influence on the school and community,” CHS senior Tanisha Sarwal emphasizes.
Tanisha, David and Gavin want to share important messages with their community to never be scared to get help, know that there are several resources to turn to and that it is always possible to have hope.
CHS HOPE Squad is available to partner with any community organization that wants to help share their message. They currently receive funding through the Centerville Noon Optimist Club.
“They have been instrumental in supporting us and we would not be able to do the activities and programs we do without their support,” explains Amy.
If you or any Centerville student you know is struggling with mental health, please call the school safety hotline at 1.866.547.8362. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988. You can view other lifesaving resources on the HOPE Squad website, HOPESquad.com.
“Their peers truly look up to them.” -Beth Mires, CHS Intervention Counselor