Aspen Middle School is introducing a peer-to-peer mental health support program this spring, expanding an initiative that has shown success at Aspen High School over the past three years.
The program, known as Hope Squad, is a national initiative based in Provo, Utah. It operates on the belief that students are more likely to discuss mental health concerns with peers rather than school staff or parents. By training students to support one another, the program aims to improve mental health awareness and suicide prevention in schools.
Coulter Burch, a community counselor overseeing the middle school launch, expects the program to be operational within weeks. Staff will undergo training, and students will elect their Hope Squad representatives. The curriculum will focus on recognizing signs of depression and fostering healthy social habits.
“The earlier intervention happens, the sooner students can positively influence themselves and each other,” Burch said.
Aspen High School introduced Hope Squad in the 2022-23 school year, and the results have been promising. According to the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey, the percentage of AHS students who reported feeling sad or hopeless dropped from 39.8% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2023. During the same period, the number of students who seriously considered suicide decreased from 18.1% to 9.5%.
The program was implemented after two AHS students researched ways to improve teen mental health, according to Assistant Principal Becky Oliver. Today, 25 students from grades nine through 12 serve as peer-elected Hope Squad members.
These students receive specialized training in the “QPR” approach—Question, Persuade, Refer. They learn how to identify warning signs, encourage struggling peers to seek help, and guide them to trusted adults. The school ensures that Hope Squad members come from diverse backgrounds, including minority groups, LGBTQ+ students, and athletes.
“It needs to be kids that other kids see as approachable and safe to talk to,” Oliver said.
Julia Diaz, Hope Squad co-president and an AHS senior, emphasized the group’s goal of reducing stigma around mental health and encouraging students to seek help when needed.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of that,” Diaz said.
Fellow co-president Audrey Woodrow noted that many students join Hope Squad because they have experienced suicide-related situations, either personally or through a friend.
“Being a teenager is hard, and people struggle in different ways. Having a place where students can talk to someone their own age is really important,” she said.
Hope Squad members meet twice a week to plan initiatives, including strategies to help students manage the stress of college applications. They also organize “Hope Week,” bringing in guest speakers such as nutritionists and sports psychologists to address various aspects of teen mental health.
Oliver highlighted that the program is entirely student-led and has fostered a more inclusive school culture.
“It’s created an environment where kids recognize that all students are probably struggling with something,” she said.
The program is funded by Aspen’s tobacco tax, covering training, events, and other expenses.
Students struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts can reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for confidential support at any time.
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