After two students committed suicide at Riverton High School in the 2005-2006 school year, staff members knew they needed to do something.

With almost 2,800 students, the school is the largest in the state. Too many students were getting lost in the shuffle, it seemed.

"We were looking desperately for a program which would help curb the situation we had with a lot of depression and suicides," said RHS counselor Debi Warr.

The idea to start some sort of Hope Task Force came from a school in the Provo District doing the same thing. Warr contacted the school, which was cooperative in sharing information. Thus, the Riverton High School Hope Squad was born in fall 2006.

The squad is a collection of 50 students, nominated by their peers, who are available for anyone who might be struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts. Hope Squad members were given around 16 hours of training to recognize warning signs and were instructed in how they could talk to the person to show their concern and also guide them to someone who could help them.

"Statistics show that young people are much more likely to talk to their peers and commit them to silence about something instead of getting information to professionals," Warr said.

Students on the squad were required to take a pledge that they would attend training sessions to help them recognize signs of suicide risks, to be aware of and befriend students who may need help, be a good listener and maintain confidentiality and to remember they are not a professional counselor, so they will refer other students to someone who is.

Emmie Buchanon, 18, a senior and member of the Hope Squad, said her friends have been surprised at how seriously she takes even little remarks about suicide.

"You can't just make an offhand comment about it, because you don't know how serious an offhand comment is," she said.

Corey Mackay, 17, said she is already part of another suicide-prevention force that her family runs. It makes her feel good to be involved in the prevention process.

"My whole family knows about (Hope Squad), and they're really proud of me," she said.

Talking to friends has helped, RHS student-body president, Sheen Beard, 18, another Hope Squad member cope with the heavy emotions.

"I always have stuff going on and am way busy trying to help people," he said. "Last week I was down and knew I needed to talk to somebody. I sat down with one of my closest friends and just talked it out. It's good to hear someone give you encouragement and say, 'Oh you're doing a good job.'"

During the week of Jan. 8-13, the Hope Squad held a Hope Week with activities every day to encourage students to choose alternatives to killing themselves. The culmination of the week was a Hope Walk. Students walked, in 10-degree weather, from Riverton High School to Riverton City Hall where Mayor Bill Applegarth addressed them.