Gulf Coast Hope Squad members attend the annual mental health summit

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) – It was an inspiration meeting in conjunction with the annual Health Summit held at Pascagoula High School.

Typically, students in health programs across states take seats to learn about physical health.

This year’s priority is mental health, and members of Hope’s new chapter have a front row seat.

Hope Squad is a student-led organization that aims to encourage peers to talk to these members about their mental health through the power of connection.

Hope Squad CEO Gregory Hudnall Jr. inspired these students to continue to bring hope through their school doors.

Hundall says, “I hope everyone leaves today thinking, ‘How can I connect with the people around me, how can I connect with the person I’m sitting next to on the school bus, how can I connect with family members and friends?’ “”

Rachel Spates is a former Alabama principal who learned about the Hope Squad after three student suicides.

The organization helped her survive these difficult times.

Now it is working with Hope Squad to share that support with other schools.

Rachel Spates, regional sales director at Hope Squad, says: “We need to value students more. They are capable. They know what they need, and in many of the schools I talk to, they are asking for more peer-to-peer connections. That’s what Hope Squad does. If we want to save our children, we must take care of them.”

Through presentations and activities, Hope Squad members learned various tools, such as how to use the right words when talking to someone who may be feeling suicidal or how to wisely use their role as intermediaries between peers and adults.

Madalynn Broussard, member of the Hope Squad at St. Patrick’s High School. Martin, says: “It was great to be here today because I was able to interact with all the other Hope teams. I learned a few other activities we could do, such as having some students mention the buttons, a group chat involving the entire Hope squad, which I thought would be great for all Hope Troops to connect across the coast.”

After the session ended, Hope Squad members ran outside with paper chains filled with messages of hope from all 14 schools. They linked chains that filled the football field as a symbol of their shared commitment to improving mental health in their schools.

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