Sources of Strength

WHAT IS SOURCES OF STRENGTH?

Sources of Strength is an evidence-based best practice youth suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. Sources of Strength moves beyond a risk-focus and utilizes an upstream approach, mobilizing a group of powerful Peer Leaders to spread messages of Hope, Help, and Strength throughout their school and community. 

The mission of Sources of Strength is to empower a well world and prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. The program uses a fun-filled style of active learning to encourage open discussion about the very real problems that youth face and what can help. Sources of Strength believes it takes both students and staff working together to create lasting positive impact, therefore Adult Advisors and Peer Leaders will be trained.

Sources of Strength runs in schools and communities throughout the United States, partnering with hundreds of clients and agencies, and is actively running in thousands of schools. The program is present and successful in rural, urban, and suburban communities including several schools in our area. 

WHO WE ARE

A best practice youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to create healthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, violence, bullying, and substance misuse. The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent adverse outcomes by increasing wellbeing, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and belonging. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support, or protective factors, for young people so that when times get hard, they have strengths to rely on.

SOURCES OF STRENGTH MODEL

Relationships is at the center of the Sources of Strength model. We work to partner caring, connected, and positive Adult Advisors with a diverse group of peer leaders from across the social network of a school or community. We truly believe that one without the other lacks prevention power.

Supportive Adult Advisors (caring, connected and positive)

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Diverse Peer Leaders (influence within their social group)

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Strategic Messaging Campaigns (engage, interact, and apply)

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Positive Cultural Change (positive social norming)