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Rock Springs Junior High students and counselors launch Sources of Strength peer program to boost help‑seeking
Summary
Students and counselors from Rock Springs Junior High described the Sources of Strength peer‑leader program to the board, citing evidence that the program reduces new suicide attempts and explaining a series of “hope, help and strength” campaigns planned for the year.
Rock Springs Junior High counselors and more than 40 student peer leaders presented the Sources of Strength program to the Sweetwater County School District #1 Board of Trustees on Oct. 13, describing training, peer campaigns and evidence supporting the model.
Counselor Melissa Bates introduced the students and explained that Sources of Strength trains peer leaders and adult advisors to “spread hope, help, and strength” and to connect classmates to trusted adults and mental‑health resources. Student speakers described classroom campaigns and activities designed to normalize help‑seeking and build a positive school culture.
Presenters cited a randomized, CDC‑funded trial and told trustees that schools running Sources of Strength reduce the odds of new suicide attempts; the presentation included the program’s published statistic that participating schools saw a 29% reduction in overall odds of new suicide attempts in research cited by the presenters.
Students demonstrated a recent campaign, “What helps me,” that collected short gratitude and coping responses from peers; counselors said campaign materials are used in lunches and school spaces so students who are unsure what to try when they feel overwhelmed will see peer‑tested options for coping. Adult advisors emphasized that the program is upstream prevention: peer leaders look for early signs of distress, encourage peers to seek help and—when needed—connect them to counselors or other adults.
Trustees asked whether the school is measuring outcomes; counselors said the current year will be a baseline implementation year and that the program will track campaign reach and referrals. Board members and several public speakers thanked the peer leaders and counselors for the work.
No board action was required; trustees heard the presentation as an informational item and asked for periodic updates on implementation and early indicators of impact.
