By ERIN BOWLEY | August 19, 2026

Sources of Strength is a youth suicide prevention program that is designed for individuals to focus on the power of healthy outlets and networks to change unhealthy norms and cultures. The goal is to prevent suicide, bullying and substance abuse. The mission of the program is to empower a well-world and prevent suicide by pinpointing and strengthening relationships between peers and adults while pushing for individuals to ask for help. 

Shelly Kelley and Angie Smith, both now Sources of Strength (SOS) Trainers through Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, were connected to the program while attending the Kansas Prevention Collaborative Conference. 

Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcoholism (DCCCA), an organization originally formed to support Douglas County citizens with alcoholism, is now a non-profit that provides services far beyond their original scope. DCCCA provides grant funding to get people certified as SOS instructors. Kelley and Smith were determined to start an initiative in Linn County schools, especially after now-sophomore Ryland Summers reached out detailing the need for a program at Jayhawk Linn schools. 

In April of 2025, Ryland’s cousin, Zach, committed suicide. “He was kind and generous. You would have never thought… he wasn’t the kind of person,” Ryland explained. 

He continued to detail that there is a stigma around suicide and mental health, that someone who struggles with suicide ideation or mental health has to be sad and mopey all of the time. However, this isn’t true. Anyone can struggle and not show any signs. 

Ryland’s sister, Aubreigh, now a senior, is also involved in Sources of Strength. 

“People don’t want to talk about it, but I want them to realize that it’s okay to not always feel okay,” Aubreigh said.

The biggest question for Kelley and Smith was how to implement this program into the schools cost-effectively and time-efficiently. After speaking to DCCCA, they were given a grant to start the program. They already have 32 students interested in being peer leaders and 10 to 12 staff members interested in being adult supervisors. 

“Being able to start this at such a young age is so fruitful for them because they can take it through their whole lives,” Kelley explained. 

Peer leaders will put on at least four campaigns throughout the school year to raise awareness about student mental health and youth suicide. Through this, they hope to impact students and shift their focus from sad, shock and trauma, to hope, help and strength; to teach students to protect themselves before traumatic events. 

“Don’t let it get to be an emergency before you get help,” Ryland said. 

Smith detailed that this is all based on a wheel of strength. This wheel has eight domains that help students ask themselves: “Where do my strengths lie?” This could be family support, spirituality, friends or mentors. This identifies what and who they can lean on when they are struggling and recognize that there are people that can and will help them through their tough time. 

“A lot of people tie their worth to what they do and how they perform. It’s getting them to realize that they’re more than their accomplishments and more than their failures,” Aubreigh added. 

They each leave us with thoughts to ponder:

“A few bad days doesn’t make a bad year,” Ryland said.

“Sometimes we don’t have those outlets, but we have each other and that’s where the power lies. There is a way to get out without causing more damage,” Kelley explained.

Lastly, “Your life and your well-being is worth a phone call,” Aubreigh simply said. 

Sources of Strength will kick off the school year at Jayhawk Linn’s Open House on Aug. 18.