Problem Solvers: Student-led initiative to combat growing mental health issues in schools

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Bend-La Pine School's Healthy Schools program has resulted in a 21% reduction in behavioral health-related emergency department visits since its inception. The initiative, which targets student mental health and suicide prevention, has saved between $812,000 and $1.5 million in associated health care costs.

Partnership Formed to Address Adolescent Health

The program was created in 2021 in partnership with Deschutes County to address worsening adolescent health issues, including alcohol and drug use and disruptive behavior. Recent data from a 2024 student health survey revealed that nearly 11% of 11th graders in the district had considered attempting suicide (see full study below), while national data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed approximately 37% of students reported regular mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students Lead Suicide Prevention Efforts

One of the primary initiatives within the district is Sources of Strength, a student-led suicide prevention program that focuses on stories of hope rather than trauma. Kayla Brandon, a senior at Caldera High School and a nationally recognized peer leader, helps facilitate these efforts.

"The Sources of Strength program is an up strength suicide prevention program," Brandon said. "So we focus on stories of hope instead of stories of trauma."

Changing Perspectives on Mental Health

Daisy Chavez, a junior at Caldera High School and also a nationally recognized peer leader, said the program changed her perspective on the importance of the topic.

"I really got drawn into the idea of really realizing how mental health is a bigger topic," Chavez said. "I think at first I was like, it's not that big of a deal. And then once I got into it, you really do learn so much about what mental health is, how it impacts others and how you can also help others who are in that situation as well."

Curriculum Builds Skills and Trust

Chavez noted that students have seen a visible increase in suicide and depression rates among their peers. The curriculum focuses on eight essential health skills, including advocacy, decision-making and accessing reliable resources.

Neil Seibert, a health and PE teacher at Caldera High School, said these skills provide a foundation for healthy habits and trust-building between students and mentors.

"We have eight essential health skills that we focus on, accessing valid and reliable resources, advocacy, decision making," Seibert said. "Practicing health enhancing behaviors. And so those skills set the foundation for everything that we cover in our health curriculum."

Peer Events and Family Engagement

During March, peer leaders organized a Mentor Madness event where students and mentors competed in games in the gymnasium and classrooms. Beyond the classroom, the district emphasizes parental engagement through family nights.

Hailey Barth, a public health specialist, explained that these events allow students to teach their families the resiliency skills they have learned.

"We have hosted multiple family nights throughout the district where this is a peer led program," Barth said. "So students are planning this. They're inviting their families to these events and they're also teaching, their parents and families the resiliency skills they're learning in the program."

Family Connection Strengthens Mental Health

Federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports this focus on family connection. Regular family rituals such as shared dinners, walks or movies are associated with 40% fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety in teenagers.

Expansion Ahead for Healthy Schools Program

The district currently offers the Healthy Schools program in every high school.
Bend-La Pine Schools officials are now working to implement the program in middle schools across the district.