Buckeye, North Olmsted students raise awareness, funds for mental health

YORK TWP. — Buckeye and North Olmsted students came together to raise awareness and funds for mental health while their varsity boys basketball teams played against one another on Friday. Buckeye and North Olmsted students who are members of their schools' Hope Squad were involved in Friday's "Hoops for Hope" event. Buckeye High School Prevention Coordinator Bridgette Lempner said Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, and districts across the county have the program. Students apply or are nominated, and they go through an interview process to become members. "They are trained in identifying red flags in peers or to be a receiver for a peer to go to if they've been struggling," she said. "Then they're trained to know how to support that peer by getting them to an adult so that they can have the appropriate support or intervention that's needed." Research shows when students are struggling, they turn to each other, Lempner said. "Buckeye felt it was important to implement this program because it's helping our kids who are already talking to each other when they're struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety or just issues in general," she said. "It's really helped our district to get kids who are really struggling to adults more quickly. It helped our kids who are the friend that everybody goes to, to have healthier boundaries and know they don't have to navigate this by themselves." On Friday, there were tables with mental health information for both communities, a prize raffle and student-designed stickers for sale. Lempner said people in attendance from both districts were asked to wear purple to symbolize unity. Each district raised $136 for their mental health organization of choice, she said. Buckeye's funds will go to Medina County Coalition for Suicide Prevention, while North Olmsted's will go to Mending Hearts for Mason. "I think it's neat for our communities to say we can be rivals in sports but come together to recognize the importance of supporting our kids and raising mental health awareness," Lempner said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.