Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., with nearly 50,000 deaths from people of all ages dying by suicide in 2022 (www.cdc.gov).
Sources of Strength (S.O.S.) is one of the programs that is trying to lower this statistic. Gateway/Crossroads is one of the many schools across the U.S. participating in S.O.S.
Mark LoMurray founded S.O.S. in 1998 to promote mental health and prevent teenage suicide. Previously, he worked for the Police Youth Bureau until he quit his job to start S.O.S.
Its goal is to prevent suicide by spreading hope, help, and strength, as well as helping people connect and feel they belong in the community.
You might have noticed an S.O.S. poster hung around our school, with a colorful wheel. Each part of the wheel represents a source of strength. A few of the sources of strength included on the wheel are mental health, physical health, and positive friends. The point is to make you think, “what are my strengths?” and “what strengths can I improve?”
Influential students at various schools are invited to join the program. if they decide to join, they are trained to be peer leaders who serve as connectors to the rest of the school community. Their job is to encourage help-seeking behaviors while spreading hope, help, and strength.
Currently at Gateway, we have several peer leaders working behind the scenes. Among these are Dalelyn Conway, who helps others with schoolwork, Walter Vasquez Bonilla, who ensures his classmates are not left out, and as a peer leader myself, I am always supportive and friendly to everyone. These are examples of what peer leaders can do around the school.
You don’t need to be a peer leader to help the cause. By staying positive, being friendly, giving compliments, and starting conversations with people who look lonely, you can help make positive change. Some people go through the entire day without anyone saying anything to them, so by starting a conversation you could make their day.
