According to Texas Health and Human Services, suicide stands as the second leading cause of death in Texas, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and understanding in our communities. 

Counselor Adalis Figueroa-Jones, along with other counselors and Hope Squad students, is taking significant initiatives to bring attention to suicide prevention. 

 “The primary goal of raising awareness for suicide is that it’s real,” Figueroa-Jones said. “These things do happen on a day-to-day basis. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the state of Texas, and so we must raise awareness by doing lots of different initiatives here at school.” 

Figueroa-Jones aims to build a supportive environment for those in need of assistance by reducing stigmas and encouraging others to seek help. 

 “Right now, we’re in Suicide Prevention Week, so many activities are going on at school,” Figueroa-Jones said. “There are many lunch activities that Hope Squad is managing. We have stress ball-making, and we also have small groups. It’s a three-week therapeutic group. Students, if they want to be a part of it, can come to me, and we can discuss it.” 

Educating the community plays a crucial role in dispelling myths surrounding suicide and promoting understanding.

 “There are lots of ways to educate people about the signs of suicide,” Figueroa-Jones said. “During an advisory lesson for Suicide Prevention Week, there was a presentation on myths and facts about suicide because I think a lot of the stigma surrounding suicide comes from different myths we hear. Debunking those myths is important so that our students, parents, staff, and everyone can understand suicide better.” 

 Figueroa-Jones also stresses the importance of peer support in  helping someone through tough times.

 “We have a Hope Squad here,” Figueroa-Jones said. “Hope Squad does an excellent job of learning some of the signs. They are trained in QPR, which helps identify some of those signs. You know your friends and peers. You know when something is off or when something is wrong.”

She encourages students to be proactive in helping their friends. 

“Don’t be afraid to get them the help they need,” Figueroa-Jones said. “I always tell people I would rather lose a friend or make someone mad than have a friend not be here. It’s important to have the courage to ask tough questions and get that person help.”

 Hope Squad members, as teenagers helping their peers, , play a vital role in promoting mental health awareness and support among students. 

“I feel like people often stigmatize mental health, thinking that they can’t be helped or that they’re too far gone, and that’s completely untrue,” senior Hope Squad member Linville said. “No matter how suicidal someone is, they can always be saved or helped to get to a better place.” 

Many resources are available for those struggling with mental health issues. 

 “You don’t even have to be having suicidal thoughts,” senior Zeek Kelly said. “You could just need somebody to talk to. You can text 411, the mental health crisis text line, or talk to Mr. Galloway, one of your peers, or even 911, since they are professionally trained to evaluate suicidal intentions.”

For those in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988. Additionally, the Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling.