This Spring, faculty and students from Franklin Academy took the first steps in implementing Sources of Strength, a peer-led, evidence-based suicide prevention and wellness program that empowers diverse student groups to spread messages of hope, help, and strength across their social networks. The team of faculty advisors and 25 Student Peer Leaders received the initial Sources of Strength training from Chelsea Keller, Director of Training and Curriculum for the Network Health and Prevention Program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Franklin Academy is one of five high schools in New York State that received three years of funding for the program through the Suicide Prevention Center of New York State and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
Suicide awareness and prevention are not new ideas; school and district leaders have embraced the need for and value of these kinds of programs for many years. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and 3rd leading for ages 15-24 in the United States in 2022, and also reports that suicide rates for this age group, 10-24 increased by more than 50% from 2007 to 2021. This data indicates a clear need for suicide prevention programs that include early identification, mental health education, crisis response protocols, and pathways to care.
The faculty members involved in Sources of Strength are particularly hopeful about this program’s potential to make a real impact. Christine Venery, School Social Worker at Franklin Academy and one of the faculty advisors, believes that Sources of Strength’s emphasis on Student Peer Leaders to help guide and implement the program set it apart from earlier efforts. Additionally, the program’s core message goes beyond focusing on risk factors to helping all students identify their own strengths to build up resources that can be used during difficult times, making for a more comprehensive approach than some of the other prevention programs used in the past.
Superintendent of Schools Brandon J. Pelkey, who in addition to being a student himself at Franklin Academy was a Biology teacher and Building Principal there, said of the program, “As educators, our responsibility extends beyond academics to ensuring every student feels connected, supported, and valued. The implementation of Sources of Strength at Franklin Academy is an important step in strengthening student wellness, resilience, and peer support. By empowering students to support one another and connect peers with trusted adults, we are helping build a culture of hope, belonging, and care throughout our school community.”
The district administration and advisors plan to continue recruiting and training Student Peer Leaders in order to expand the program in the years to come.