Dallas Jesuit’s Hope Squad left campus last Thursday (October 19th) to attend the 2023 Texas Hope Squad conference out in Garland, Texas. Hope Squads from schools all around the state of Texas traveled out to attend this full-day conference.
Importance of Emotions
Beginning the meeting, Christina Stock, a Hope Squad board certified music therapist, as well as Shauna Barnes, a mental health education manager with The Grant Halliburton Foundation, gave a presentation on the complexity of emotions. Emphasizing the point that as humans we can feel many things at the same time however sometimes we hide these emotions, and we do our best to move on through life. However, we must remember the importance of voicing our feelings and emotions. Through vocalizing our emotions we can find support and find a way to work through them. For example, through music, we can feel and express the feelings we have, sharing them with others. We can redirect our emotions and convert them into a voice, a way to be heard.
After this presentation we broke into groups and attended different events the conference was hosting.
QPR Presentation
We moved on to a presentation on QPR, a tool all Hope Squad members use organized, presented by members of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, David Umanzor, Latasha Jackson, and Alycia Watkins. The JEHF’s mission is to work to prevent suicide, eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, and provide hope to people struggling with depression.
QPR is an acronym that stands for question, persuade, and refer- similar to CPR, both being practices that can save lives. QPR however is used differently. This is a tool used to start the conversation when you see someone you are concerned may be considering suicide, and to find that person the help they need. When you see someone distraught or in a state of melancholy you have to start the conversation. Even if you in doubt it’s to the severity of suicide, it’s impossible to find out what they are thinking without first asking. Simply sitting down and starting a conversation by asking,” How have you been doing recently?” Beginning the conversation gives those who are depressed and maybe considering suicide some much needed support and someone they can rely on.
Youth suicide has increased by 60% since 2007 and has become the 2nd leading cause of death in all youth. Therefore, we as a community must work together to help and support our fellow peers struggling through tough times or just those who are having a bad day.
Guest Appearance
After the presentation over QPR, the conference had a guest appearance from Janea Hill, the creator of Unbroken, a brave movement for women and girls who want to take action and create change in their community, and Alex Boye, a celebrated global musician featured on shows such as “America’s Got Talent”, creating songs spanning across multiple diverse genres of music.
They spoke on the growing culture of “trash talk” and self-hate which all youth are familiar with. So often we compare ourselves to others and we put ourselves down, which can only bring disappointment and perpetual self-hatred. However, the two made the point to address how at the beginning of a person’s life, as a baby, each human is perfect, and that past events don’t in any way define a person. Therefore, everyone is perfect just the way they are. Alex wrote and created an online music video named, “I am a 10” emphasizing the beauty and goodness in all people, and how deep down we are all 10’s!
Q&A
Finally, closing the event, the present members of Hope Squad’s National Council, Iva, Manvi, Nick, and Jesuits’ own Christopher Simington, and Drew Noonan held a public Q&A. This Q&A addresses questions their fellow Hope Squad members had concerning different fields, from how best to approach someone in a weak mental state who was considering the option of suicide, to struggles they’ve had has a hope squad members.
A Closing
As a whole, the conference was a great success and offered members a chance to talk and discuss with their fellow Hope squad members, learning more about what they can do to help bring hope to their community.
Stay tuned to the Jesuit Roundup for more community news!
