SAN ANTONIO \u2013 It is a path to reducing teen suicides, led by kids themselves. <\/p>\n
For the first time, San Antonio schools are adopting groups of students called Hope Squads<\/a>, trained to help their peers struggling with mental health.<\/p>\n The story is the next in KSAT\u2019s extensive series on kids\u2019 mental health.<\/p>\n Southwest Legacy High School junior Emily Moreno used to struggle with her mental health.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil it got too far, and I just realized yes, I need to talk to someone. There\u2019s more kids like me who suffer in silence that are too scared to speak out,\u201d Moreno said.<\/p>\n When asked what it felt like to finally let her feelings out, she said \u201cit was so much relief.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cIt felt, it was like rainbows and unicorns! I loved it, I felt so comfortable for once,\u201d she said with a beaming smile.<\/p>\n Now she wants to be part of helping other people feel better, too. <\/p>\n That\u2019s why Moreno joined the Hope Squad, a nationwide effort that allows kids themselves to help prevent suicide in their peers.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that having somebody your age means a lot more to a lot of people,\u201d said Southwest Legacy High School senior Noah Reyes.<\/p>\n Reyes is one of at least 30 students on his school\u2019s Hope Squad.<\/p>\n They were all peer-nominated, went through months of training and just announced to the school who they are. <\/p>\n Now they\u2019re ready for kids to confide in them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing you do is take them absolutely seriously. Not everybody has friends, that\u2019s the truth, but we kind of serve as a placeholder for those people and kind of a connection to go to other adults,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n If a student is in crisis, the Hope Squad brings that person to one of the counselors on campus from the organization Communities in Schools, which oversees the local Hope Squads. <\/p>\n \u201cAcross all of our spaces we have definitely seem more suicidal ideation. And it\u2019s just escalated throughout the years,\u201d said Communities in Schools San Antonio CEO Jessica Weaver. <\/p>\n Weaver said Hope Squads are changing that. <\/p>\n \u201cThe research has shown that it has reduced suicide rates and (the program) had not been in San Antonio,\u201d Weaver said. <\/p>\n There are more than 2,000 Hope Squads across the nation, including in Texas. The first in San Antonio are within Southwest, East Central, and Northside ISDs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good feeling knowing that I\u2019m there for the people. And they know I\u2019m there,\u201d Reyes said. <\/p>\n \u201cI just let them know, \u2018Hey, it\u2019s okay to talk, I\u2019m always here for you no matter what, and I don\u2019t want you to feel this way, and just put it out on social media and have no one to talk to,\u2019\u201d Moreno said. <\/p>\n It\u2019s proof that just a little bit of hope can change everything.<\/p>\n Any district interested in setting up a Hope Squad at one of their campuses can call Communities in Schools at 210-520-8440, email cissa@cissa.org<\/a> or visit the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there is help. Call 988 or text TALK to 741-741. If there is an immediate danger, call 911.<\/p>\n You can also reach out to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/a> (AFSP) or the National Alliance of Mental Illness<\/a> (NAMI) at 210-223-7233 (SAFE) or 800-316-9241. You can also text NAMI to 741-741.<\/p>\n If you are not in crisis but need someone to talk to, or want to ask for services for yourself or a loved one, call NAMI\u2019s Warm Line<\/a> at (210) 939-9999.<\/p>\n