Revitalizing hope for teens through Project Renew

How well equipped are the average students, parents and community members to recognize when their friends and family are struggling with suicidal thoughts? It may feel like something only a clinical professional could be trained to do, but there are warning signs in a person’s behavior, mood and how they communicate that anyone can watch for and know what resources are available to help that friend or family member.

“Our mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Jacqueline Sharp, area director of the Arkansas chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Project Renew, a new peer-led project by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, wants to make these connections between high school students in Arkansas to educate students and prevent suicide. The program, led locally by AFSP’s Arkansas chapter, has been piloted in Greenbrier and White Hall high schools and pilot programs are being  completed in Monticello and Lee high schools. In the 2025-2026 school year, the program will launch in additional schools including Fayetteville, Lake Hamilton and Brinkley high schools.

The aim of Project Renew is to increase knowledge and awareness of mental health, suicide prevention and self-care and to get the word out to teenagers, parents and communities. Its peer-led approach exposes teens to professional and media opportunities and develops their leadership and organizational skills.

“Empowering students to lead the charge in suicide prevention is one of the most impactful ways to not only foster hope but also eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health,” said Rebecca Pittillo, president of the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. “Through the Foundation’s support of Project Renew, high school students gain the tools, confidence, and evidence-based programming needed to support their peers, engage their families and create lasting awareness in their communities. By amplifying the voices of our high school students, we are building a culture of understanding, connection and hope.”

The students are required to host and participate in weekly activities that spread awareness and implement school-wide campaigns. AFSP provides them with program training, training materials, Project Renew manuals, and education and promotion materials. The students even get to design a logo specifically for their school’s program.

These students are making an impact on the perception and awareness of suicide in their community through activities and presentations. “I enjoyed the presentation because it makes mental health as important as physical health! Ten years or so ago nobody would talk about suicide,” said a parent from Greenbrier’s Project Renew. Their work is sparking conversations necessary to removing the stigma and creating an environment in which it is safe for teens to discuss their mental health.

A three-year grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is helping make Project Renew for high school students a reality. The grant supports a program manager who will work throughout Arkansas on Project Renew and other suicide prevention initiatives.