Greg Hudnall | Reduce Youth Suicide Through Peer Intervention

AASA Edition

March 17, 2023

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller speaks with suicide prevention expert Dr. Gregory A. Hudnall about reducing youth suicide through peer intervention. Dr. Hudnall is the founder of Hope4Utah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. His school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, Hope Squad, has been responsible for referring over 5,000 students for help and over 1,000 hospitalizations. The Hope Squad program is now in over 1,000 schools in the U.S. and Canada.

During the episode, Dr. Hudnall discusses the importance of early intervention and how peer-to-peer support can be an effective way to prevent youth suicide. He shares his personal experiences with suicide crisis response and highlights the impact of community collaboration in suicide prevention efforts. Dr. Hudnall emphasizes the need for schools to create a culture of connectedness and provide support to students who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Listeners will learn about the Hope Squad model, which empowers students to identify and help their peers who may be at risk of suicide. Dr. Hudnall shares success stories and best practices for implementing the program in schools. He also provides resources for listeners who want to get involved in suicide prevention efforts in their communities.

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to become more educated and involved in suicide prevention. Dr. Hudnall urges listeners to take a proactive approach to addressing youth suicide and to work together as a community to create a safer and more supportive environment for young people.