The goal of Creighton Prep’s Hope Squad is simple: help students support other students. The program focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention through peer-to-peer conversations. It’s about making sure no one feels alone or unseen.
“Hope squad helps people feel seen because we pay attention in ways most people don’t,” club president Max Pietro said. “Everyone notices the loud kids or the outgoing kids, but there are so many students who fly under the radar. We learn to look for the small things, when someone’s quieter than usual, when they sit alone three days in a row, when their smile looks forced.”
Before becoming official Hope Squad members, students go through QPR training, which stands for “Question, Persuade, and Refer.” It’s a method that teaches them how to recognize warning signs and connect someone with help.
“This year we really want the students to take the lead” Hope Squad moderator and school mental health practitioner Mr. Kevin Kaminski said.
The plan is to keep building the program by adding around 60 new members each year, until about half the student body is involved. That might sound like a lot, but when you see how passionate the students are, it doesn’t seem impossible.
“What we want for Hope Squad after we graduate is growth with a purpose, not just more students, but a deeper impact,” Pietro said.
The club is not just about talking, it’s also about action. Whether it’s hosting awareness events, raising money, going to conferences, or just having meetings during lunch. Members are constantly learning new ways to make an impact on their friends and family.
“I would love for it to become a zero hour, because these kids deserve something, and not just a quarter zip,” Kaminski said. “I know they’re doing it for altruistic reasons. I know they’re doing it because their lives have already been impacted by what the message is.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember there are always people who care and want to help. You can call or text: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or Boys Town National Hotline, 1-800-448-3000 (text “VOICE” to 20121).
