Hope Squad
A majority of the donations will go towards Westside's Hope Squad, a suicide prevention program at Westside High School. Hope Squad has been in effect since 2016, and Westside founded a division in 2021. Hope Squad is a life saving organization, and is growing by the day. Check out more about Hope Squad, or Westside's branch below!
Hope Squad
Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. It was originally founded in Utah by Dr. Gregory A. Hudnall, a high school principal. After experiencing 2 suicides a year for over 12 years, Hudnall decided to do something about it. The goal of Hope Squad is to prevent youth suicides by educating and spreading suicide awareness. Hope Squad members are trained on suicide and how/what to do if you are personally experiencing it or witness someone else. Hope Squad members are in place to connect individuals struggling and a trusted adult. They are not counselors or therapists, but a trusted friend. This is why he started Hope Squad, and over the years data has shown that it is having a positive effect on the students.
westside's Hope Squad
After losing their son, Jack, to suicide, Mike and Lisa Meehan learned of Hope Squad and thought it would be a perfect thing to start a Westside branch. Hope Squad’s first year at Westside was in 2021, and it has taken off. Nearly a hundred students have joined, and it has become a huge part of extracurriculars at Westside.