By Rhys Baker

Have you noticed teal and purple bandanas tied to high school students’ backpacks? Community mobilizer Lori Martin explains that it’s a sign that they are members of the bandana squad. “This is a group of kids at both Clay Center and Wakefield High Schools that have gone through suicide prevention training in ways to identify when someone is struggling and also the appropriate next steps to take. Our goal is to empower these kids with the skills that they need to take appropriate action when they feel that their friends are really struggling with their mental health and possibly considering suicide.

The two essential points members of the squad learn are confidentiality and taking every conversation seriously. In turn, students learn to be good listeners and good friends. Through a grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, another student training will be held this Friday. Martin says, “This training is for all high school age or young adult kids in our community that would like to know more about what to do if you find yourself in the position where you know someone needs help and want to be sure that you take the right step. We are not training folks to be therapists. That’s not what this is about at all. We are teaching to identify signs and then what the next steps are.”

The training will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Common Ground in Clay Center. Trainer Erika Lysell is a licensed master’s level social worker and a master trainer for the applied suicide intervention skills team. U-S-D 3-7-9 students do not have school on Friday due to parent-teacher conferences.