After 7 suicides, new club at Herriman High aims to make a difference
(KUTV) — At Herriman High School, students are looking for a fresh start this school year. The study body is still recovering after seven suicides last year.
Students are taking it upon themselves to make a difference with the addition of a new club.
“We cannot go through what we went through last year. Last year was awful,” said Ryan Cherry, a senior at Herriman High. He struggles with depression and last school year, Cherry hit an all-time low.
“I felt like I had no one to turn to. I would come home from school and I would just lay in bed because I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to,” he said.
That is until he heard of the Golden Gate Club. It first started at Bingham High School, but this year, Cherry decided to bring it to Herriman.
“Herriman High School needs this club, especially around this time when these suicides happened,” he said.
The club’s goal is inclusivity. Group members make sure everyone has a seat at lunch or friends to attend a school dance with.
“It’s just other peers reaching out to other kids that need, that feel alone,” Cherry said.
It’s a simple concept that goes a long way.
“Peers at the adolescent ages are fundamental to your sense of belonging and not feeling like you belong is an instrumental factor to suicidal ideations,” said McKinley Withers, a health and wellness specialist with the Jordan School District. His position was just added this year to give student mental health the attention it needs. Jordan School District also added 36 news psychologists this year.
McKinley said having a student-run club has a huge impact on kids.
“I think that having a student club and having those students feel empowered, they can make a difference,” he said.
By connecting with their peers, students at Herriman High are addressing mental health in a new way.
“I want this school year to be the best school year that Herriman High has ever seen,” Cherry said. "After what happened last year, I think that’s really what Herriman needs.”
