Medina High School’s Hoops for Hope shines spotlight on mental health

Medina High School’s Hope Squad, in partnership with the Medina Athletic Boosters, the Medina High School Athletic Department, and the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, will sponsor Hoops for Hope on Feb. 6.

The event will highlight the district’s commitment to mental health awareness and peer support. Members of the Medina High School Hope Squad, Middle School Hope Squad and Junior Hope Squad will be recognized and introduced at halftime of the boys’ basketball game.

Hoops for Hope T-shirts will be distributed during the school pep assembly and at the game, with both the home and visiting teams receiving shirts. Throughout the evening, Hope Squad programs will be featured through hallway displays showcasing activities and initiatives students have participated in during the past year.

The Junior Hope Squad will host a donation-only bake sale to raise funds for its program.

Medina High School students will also be featured in a short film emphasizing the importance of looking out for teammates and friends. The film encourages viewers to move beyond surface-level interactions and ask, “How are you really?”

“Since the district introduced and supported the Hope Squad program, students have taken the lead in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness,” Hope Squad adviser Ron Blue said. “It is now commonplace for students to seek help for their distressed friends. Prior to Hope Squad, staff were the primary channel for identifying at-risk students. Since its inception, peers are identifying those in need and help is being offered more regularly.”

Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program that uses student connections to reduce suicide risk among students in the Medina City School District. Members are selected based on trustworthiness and approachability and are trained to recognize suicide risk factors and warning signs. The program empowers students to connect peers who may be struggling with timely and appropriate support.