Why We Partnered with Hope Squad

After an Elyssa’s Mission board member saw the Nightly News segment, we were asked to research the program. We found that Hope Squad was the perfect complement to our SOS Signs of Suicide Program. While the SOS Program targets entire grade level(s) once or twice a year to teach the warning signs of suicide and depression and how to ACT, Hope Squad is a year-long program that focuses on a small but diverse group of students who continue to look for the warning signs and ACT as well as promote positive mental health awareness. Elyssa’s Mission began their partnership with Hope Squad in fall of 2019 bringing the program to the first schools in Illinois.

Gabriel’s Light founder, Carol Deely, first heard about Hope Squad from a family friend at a school in Hudson, Ohio. Their daughter had an awesome experience as a Hope Squad leader.

In Carol’s words: One of the things we learned after the death of Gabriel, our son, was that he talked about suicide to his peers. He did not with any adults that we are aware. These young seventh graders didn’t take him seriously. They had not been educated on the Signs of Suicide or Hope Squads. This was a missed opportunity to intervene and get help for our son. We now know that over 80% of kids tell a peer of their plans. We looked further into Hope Squads and their mission to train youth leaders and inform students of how to help themself and others. We knew that this was an organization that Gabriel’s Light could underwrite with our partner, Elyssa’s Mission who works directly with schools. It was a win win for both of us.