Pain can be quiet. Not all suffering is accompanied by an outcry for help. At school, that distress can settle into hallways, classrooms and conversations over time, turning into despair and changing the way students connect with others. For Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools, the loss of a student has become a moment of deep reflection, reshaping conversations about mental health, connection and the responsibility to care for one another.
Through partnership with Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, administrators in Lake Linden have brought in suicide prevention training sessions, welcoming all to learn practical, life-saving skills. As the community continues to grieve and work towards healing, these efforts reflect a shared commitment among educators to fostering compassion, strengthening connections and ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggles or unseen in their pain.
“Every one of us can do something and find a way to help,” said Lisa Ruhman, Assistant Principal at LLHHS. “If we’re all speaking the same language and all have the same training, then we all know what the focus is. Coming in sooner and offering a resource to our students not only helps prevent them from reaching a point of crisis, but also tells them, ‘Hey, you have a safe space, and you have safe people.’”
Students are also taking a lead with QPR Training, learning to identify the warning signs in their fellow classmates and how to refer them to a trusted adult or mental health resource. QPR stands for question, persuade and refer, three simple steps that anyone can take to save a life. This training builds up a safety network by teaching students to provide peers with a safe and warm handoff to people with the proper training and experience. People who feel supported and in-control are more likely to seek help, making the hand off, or referral, a key part of QPR.
“I think people are scared to put themselves out there in fear that they’ll always be labeled as ‘the attention seeker,’” said Nick Heinz, a senior at LLHHS. “I know I've had personal difficulties opening up to classmates of mine. It’s scary to say the least. I think most people don’t really talk about that stuff or contact their peers because it’s terrifying to be that vulnerable.”
That fear of being judged or misunderstood often leads students to remain silent or hide their struggles, even from their closest friends. When vulnerability is seen as a risk rather than a strength, many young people choose isolation over possible rejection. To foster an environment of openness and empathy where students feel comfortable seeking help before they reach their breaking point, educators and administrators have completed QPR training, and brought it to the broader community so others could attend.
By equipping staff with the tools to recognize distress and respond with care, the school aims to bridge the gap between students who are struggling and the help they may not know how to ask for. Their efforts emphasize that support doesn’t only come from peers, but from trusted adults who can model compassion and understanding in meaningful and life-saving ways.
“It’s hard to define what exactly makes a teacher feel safe and trustworthy,” said Heinz, “I think teachers should have a base level of warmth and kindness, but it’s also okay to show that you’ve had struggles too. We need someone who’s willing to ask what we need, and understand our point of view. It can be hard to transition to high school where teachers are more strict and classes are more difficult, but you can be strong and also be kind.”
“You grow such a strong tendency to shrug off those experiences that you come to a point where this ugly dark mass has grown too big,” said Heinz. “Then you need to do something about it, but you feel like you can’t really exit that hard shell you've created around yourself.”
Over time, that feeling of despair can begin to seem permanent, reinforcing a belief that asking for help is pointless or impossible. Understanding this gradual buildup has pushed the school to reflect on how its systems, relationships and messaging can better intervene before students reach that point.
“It’s important to bring this messaging to the students over and over again so that they're reassured, and know this is not a one-time checkbox,” said Ruhman. “It's not casual for us. This is a big deal for the educators, students and this town.”
QPR Training is offered free by Copper Shores staff and is available to any group, organization or business in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. Copper Shores also regularly offers this training to the public. Visit coppershores.org/qpr to learn more about the training, register for upcoming dates and see how you can bring it to your community.
Grow the support network of mental health advocates by taking free QPR Training at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School. Bring QPR Training to your organization, workplace or agency, at no cost to participants.