Sources of Strength 

The Sources of Strength program is a universal, school-based program that is designed to change the Norms and behaviors surrounding suicide within a school community and increase social support and connectedness among students, including suicidal students. Sources of Strength aims to build socioecological-protective influences across the entire student population, to reduce the likelihood that vulnerable high school students will become suicidal. The program focuses on changing the Norms and behaviors of students through youth opinion leaders. Youth opinion leaders are trained by certified trainers and supported (by adult advisors) in preparing and conducting suicide prevention-messaging activities. The activities are designed to change unhealthy Norms around help seeking and trust towards adults, encouraging students to connect suicidal friends with a trusted adult (thereby reducing implicit acceptability of suicide in response to distress and increasing the acceptability of seeking help), improve communication between students and adults, and promote the use interpersonal and formal coping resources.