Hope Squad to offer support for Deer Lakes students

A peer-based suicide prevention program is being brought to Deer Lakes School District.

Hope Squad, founded in Utah over 15 years ago, has a mission to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide.

In March 2019, Deer Lakes sophomore Maura Rupprecht died by suicide at the age of 16.

Dan and Molly Rupprecht, Maura’s parents, began looking into programs to decide which ones would aid students’ mental health the most. In November, Molly Rupprecht said she started researching Hope Squad.

To raise funds to implement a suicide prevention program, the Deer Lakes Hockey Club held its first inaugural Maura C. Rupprecht alumni game in December 2019.

Hockey club President Pietro Porco said mental health is a real concern.

“It’s very difficult to understand the signs that lead up to suicide,” Porco said.

The club raised $8,264, surpassing its goal of $5,000. The money was donated to the district with the purpose of adopting Hope Squad. The school board accepted the funds last week.

“We are thankful that the Deer Lakes School Board has committed to bring the Hope Squad to the Deer Lakes School District,” Molly Rupprecht said.

With the donation, the district is able to fund the program for four years at the high school, the hockey club said in a letter to the school board. The money would also cover the $1,800 needed to educate six district members to be Hope Squad trainers. There would be enough funds for a $500 stipend for the district leader and additional funds to cover incidentals and other miscellaneous costs.

By implementing Hope Squad, Molly Rupprecht said the school will be providing trained adult advisers who will equip the students with the tools to recognize someone who is struggling with their mental health and will be able to guide them to the professionals that can help.

“These are lifelong skills,” she said. “Hope Squad members will help to end the stigma associated with mental health which will lead to more people reaching out and getting the help that they need.”

The hockey club said that they understand the importance of mental health, the need to raise suicide awareness to end the stigma, and to have a strong mental health program in place.

They are planning a second alumni game for May 23. The event will help raise additional funds to sustain and grow Hope Squad in the district.

By bringing the program to Deer Lakes, Porco said it “can only improve our chances of making sure that we get the help to the kids that really need it.”

Porco would also like the district to show more enthusiasm towards Hope Squad and see the steps the district is going to take to make this program a success.

The Rupprechts have heard from many people in the Deer Lakes community that would like to be involved in Hope Squad. They are also hopeful that other schools will follow Deer Lakes’ lead and implement a program for their own students.

“The more people that are trained, the more lives that will be saved,” Molly Rupprecht said.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255 or by going online to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.