The Frenship Counseling Department is committed to providing students with the resources and support needed to navigate mental health challenges, emphasizing the importance of peer support and open conversations.
Craig Thomson, Frenship ISD's Director of Counseling, shares the events that the district has been hosting for National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
“The Frenship Counseling Department has several ways that they are spreading education about suicide prevention awareness during September and into October,” said Thomson. “By having open conversations about mental health and training in suicide prevention, it is removing the stigma and gives students the knowledge to know it is okay to ask for help.”
One key initiative is the Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program that trains students to assist classmates in crisis situations by directing them to trusted adults, counselors, or administrators.
In addition to the Hope Squad, all 16 Frenship campuses are making Mental Health Minute announcements focusing on different themes. Last month’s theme was hope, and this month’s theme is connection. Students are challenged to reflect on their own lives and recognize how they can provide hope to others.
The counseling team has also been delivering suicide prevention awareness presentations to eighth and eleventh-grade students across the district. These lessons cover vital information about risk factors and warning signs associated with mental health crises.
“The students are approaching them with a maturity about mental health,” said Thomson. “We guide students through the risk factors and warning signs to be aware of and that if they are ever worried about a friend in any mental health crisis that they need to either get that friend to a trusted adult or go tell an adult immediately.”
Following these presentations, the district offers ongoing support to students experiencing mental health challenges.
“Students know that their amazing school counselors are always available to help them with any difficult situation they may be going through,” said Thomson.
Frenship has crisis intervention counselors who assist with mental health concerns and connect students to appropriate external resources.
Chelsea Click, a counselor at Frenship Middle School, emphasizes the importance of continuous engagement with students regarding mental health topics.
“I continually talk with students in counseling sessions, lunch groups, and through our monthly themes,” said Click.
The counseling team identifies at-risk students by analyzing data and maintaining open communication with teachers throughout the year.
Peer support plays a crucial role in suicide prevention at all four Frenship middle schools and Frenship High School. The Hope Squad consists of 17 selected students who serve as trusted allies for their peers.
“If a student reaches out to a Hope Squad member, that Hope Squad member will then notify me so that I can begin the counseling process and check-in with this student immediately,” said Click.
This proactive approach fosters a supportive community where students feel empowered to seek help and support one another.
For students who may feel hesitant to reach out, Click advises, “It might feel out of their comfort zone to reach out for help, but that is what I am here for.” She reassures students that their well-being is the priority and emphasizes the value of their lives: “You are so loved, beyond what you can ever imagine. You are so valued, and your life is worth it!”
The Frenship Counseling Department is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. By equipping students with the knowledge and resources to support themselves and their peers, our middle schools and high school are fostering a community that promotes hope, resilience, and understanding.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help by contacting the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. For additional information on Frenship’s Counseling Resouces, click here.