<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Kzpv2_1FUOqST500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Kzpv2_1FUOqST500" width="1000" height="563" ></figure>September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and at Hampton-Dumont High School, a group of students is working to make sure their classmates know there is someone they can turn to.The Hampton-Dumont Hope Squad was started last year and currently has eight student members. Senior Kenley Hansen and sophomore Nora Dunnwald are among those students.Hope Squad members are nominated by their peers, with students asked to identify classmates they feel safe talking to. Teachers then review those nominations before students are selected for the group.Dunnwald says the students serve as a first step for classmates who may be struggling.“Like we said, we are not counselors. If someone is just having a bad day, we are someone that you can just kind of vent to because it’s not that serious, but you don’t really know who to go to,” Dunnwald says. “But if we have an inkling that maybe something is going on that’s a little bit more serious, or if things are being brought up that they feel unsafe or they do not want to be here anymore, then we can communicate with some safe teachers and then they can connect them with people outside and the higher up (of) Hope Squad, and get them the help that they need.”The students are not expected to handle serious situations themselves.Hansen says Hope Squad members have gone through QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) training, which teaches them how to respond when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis and when to involve a trusted adult or other resources.For Hansen, becoming part of Hope Squad was a way to make sure other students don’t feel like they have to deal with difficult situations alone.“I mean, I’ve always had an enjoyable time helping people, talking to people,” Hansen says. “I just have always wanted to be a person that people can come to if they need help. I never want anyone to feel alone in school, outside of school. If they’re having a rough time, no one should ever go through anything alone. So I just always want to be here for someone to come to.”Dunnwald says Hope Squad members can also reach out when they notice a classmate who appears to be struggling, while encouraging students to look out for their friends and help connect them with support.The group is also working on activities in the community to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health.Hansen says Hope Squad is part of a national program, but there are currently only a handful of Iowa schools participating as of the 2026-27 academic year.Photo: Hampton-Dumont High School Hope Squad members Nora Dunnwald, left, and Kenley Hansen are providing peer support to fellow students.Full interview with Dunnwald and Hansen below</div></body>

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September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and at Hampton-Dumont High School, a group of students is working to make sure their classmates know there is someone they can turn to. The Hampton-Dumont Hope Squad was started last year and currently has eight student members. Senior Kenley Hansen and sophomore...

Hampton-Dumont students provide peer support through Hope Squad

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September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and at Hampton-Dumont High School, a group of students is working to make sure their classmates know t

Hampton-Dumont students provide peer support through Hope Squad

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