At a Mississippi State Senate session, Senator England introduced members of Jackson County’s Hope Squad and a Saint Martin High School senior, Vicky Nafungbo, described how the peer-to-peer suicide-prevention program helped her manage anxiety and depression.

Senator England said the program was implemented across 14 Jackson County schools — seven high schools and seven middle schools — after a series of teen suicides in the area and that local partners underwrote the launch. "Our superintendents all got together. Our community, Singing River Health System Foundation, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Chevron, Navigator Credit Union, Mississippi Power, Merchants Marine Bank, just to name a few, said, we want this program here to help our children and we'll pay for it," Senator England said.

The senator also linked the program to a prior legislative recommendation when she said, "Senate Bill 27, I believe year before last, created the Behavioral Health Task Force. One of those items that came out of that ... was a recommendation for peer-to-peer counselors." She said the county rollout is a first step and expressed hope the model could be expanded statewide.

Saint Martin senior Vicky Nafungbo, introduced as a Hope Squad member, told senators the program helped her find support and purpose. "Being a part of the Hope Squad gave me a sense of purpose and community," she said, describing personal struggles with perfectionism, anxiety and depression and urging support for mental-health programs in schools.

Senator England named Representative Kevin Felsher and Representative Sam Creek Moore as lawmakers working in the House to make peer-to-peer programs available across Mississippi. Senator Seymour and Senator Wiggins were also recognized in the chamber as supporters during England’s remarks.

No formal Senate action to fund, expand or require the Hope Squad program statewide was recorded during the session. Senators and representatives mentioned local philanthropic and private partners as funders; the Senate discussion consisted of recognition and testimony rather than a bill debate or vote.

Other routine business at the session included several procedural motions and calendar management but no substantive policy votes on the Hope Squad or related legislation. The Senate’s calendar motions and announcements were handled by voice votes and unanimous consent and included an Appropriations Committee meeting notice and a motion to recess until 5 p.m. with adjournment until 10 a.m. the following day.

Lawmakers and student speakers urged continued attention to youth mental health, but the transcript does not record any formal directive, appropriation or bill introduced at this meeting to scale the Hope Squad beyond Jackson County.