Jesuit and St. Rita’s Hope Squads attend conference about mental health and learn more resources. Courtesy of Grant Halliburton Foundation.

The second Hope Squad conference, an organization that provides help to students and communities, met at the Curtis Culwell Center and saw 70 squads, including from Jesuit and St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, to learn about mental health resources.

More than 1,500 students, advisors, counselors and administrators from 29 North Texas school districts attended the conference. The conference was a collaboration with local nonprofits The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, Grace Loncar Foundation and Grant Halliburton in memory of a loved one lost to suicide.

“I’m proud of these young individuals who, through the simple acts of service, kindness and leadership, are saving lives and helping their peers,” president of Grant Halliburton Foundation, Kevin Hall, said. “This conference provides Hope Squad members an opportunity to learn more about how they can provide a safe and supportive space at their schools for students struggling with mental health and help reverse staggering statistics.”

Hope Squads are groups of students who are the eyes and ears of a school. They are trained to watch for at-risk peers, provide friendship, identify warning signs and seek help from adults. Hope Squad members work with school advisors to better identify classmates. They are taught not to act as counselors but rather be educated to recognize signs of suicidal ideation.

“According to the most recent Texas YRBS survey, 1 in 8 Texas teens contemplated suicide in the last year,” CEO of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, Matt Vereecke, said. “Students selected to be members of Hope Squads are an essential part of reversing these troubling numbers. The Hope Squad conference is a place for them to learn, stay connected with their peers and get additional support for this important work.”

There are more than 3,000 Hope Squad members in more than 200 Hope Squads across North Texas. Each member was invited to the conference to learn from other schools and further the network of support.

For a full list of sponsors and more information, visit their website.