Empowering Student Voices: A Peer Leader Panel on Creating Change through Sources of Strength

Body of Abstract: This interactive workshop showcases the impact of Sources of Strength, an evidence-based suicide prevention program, through the voices of its high school-aged Peer Leaders. Utilizing a strength-based and upstream prevention approach, Sources of Strength aims to enhance protective factors and promote help-seeking behaviors among young people. This session features a panel of current Peer Leaders from a local Ohio school, offering attendees a unique opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of program implementation and its proven effects on positive social norming, increased youth-adult connections, Increased help seeking acceptability, and positively shifting school culture (Wyman et al., 2010).

The workshop begins with a brief overview of the Sources of Strength model, followed by a facilitated interview with the Peer Leader panel. Discussion topics will explore the Peer Leaders' journey, from their nomination and strategic recruitment into the program utilizing social network theory (Wyman et al., 2019), to their active role in implementing strength-based messaging campaigns. The panel will share personal insights on the transformative effects they've witnessed within their school and community as a direct result of Sources of Strength initiatives. A structured Q&A session will follow, allowing attendees to submit written questions throughout the session and engage directly with the panelists in a strategic manner.

Recent evaluation findings from Ohio schools highlight the program's significant positive impact. Students participating in Sources of Strength reported enhanced connections with peers and adults, improved emotional communication skills, and increased use of healthy coping strategies. Notably, students demonstrated greater confidence in addressing suicide concerns and reported fewer instances of bullying and fighting (King, 2024).

By amplifying youth voices, this workshop aims to illustrate the real-world impact of peer-led suicide prevention efforts, offer insights into implementation challenges and successes, and inspire attendees to shift from speaking for young people to empowering and elevating student voices. Participants will gain valuable insights into how Sources of Strength bridges gaps in traditional prevention by empowering young people to spread messages of Hope, Help, and Strength through their social networks. As Agents of Change and Connectors to Help, Peer Leaders model and lead transformation within their schools and communities. This session will prove invaluable perspective for mental health professionals, educators, and anyone interested in innovative, evidence-based approaches to youth suicide prevention.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the core principles and strength-based approach of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program.
• Analyze the role and impact of high school-aged Peer Leaders in implementing the Sources of Strength program.
• Evaluate the effects of the program on school culture, including connection, belonging, and youth-adult connectedness.
• Compare how Sources of Strength bridges gaps in traditional prevention methods through peer-to-peer messaging.
• Develop strategies for empowering and elevating student voices in suicide prevention initiatives.