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Sources of Strength (SOS) is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that centers youth peer leaders and caring adult allies to grow cultures of hope, help, and strength in schools and communities.
“Sources of Strength is the first suicide prevention program involving peer leaders to enhance protective factors associated with reducing suicide at the school population level.” – American Journal of Public Health
Sources of Strength is a strengths-based, upstream suicide prevention model that uses youth-led campaigns to boost protective factors and positive norms, rather than focusing primarily on risk and warning signs.
Peer leaders and school staff work together to build belonging, hope, and connection across the whole school. The program is implemented in a wide variety of settings, including:
Peer Leader and Adult Advisor trainings are held in separate sessions and may be completed in one day or across two consecutive days. Together, teams develop positive messaging campaigns that promote hope, help, and strength throughout the school year.
Schools implementing Sources of Strength join a statewide community of practice and receive continued support, training, and technical assistance from Youth MOVE PA.
Sources of Strength trainings are eligible for Act 48 credits, and participants receive certificates of completion.
Youth MOVE PA began rolling out Sources of Strength in Pennsylvania middle and high schools during the 2023–2024 school year.
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Funding to support Sources of Strength messaging campaigns and materials.
Full access to curriculum, tools, and implementation resources.
Continued coaching, training opportunities, and technical assistance.
Guidance as part of a broader national implementation network.
The model focuses on building protective factors through storytelling, art, group discussion, and active learning.
The Sources of Strength wheel highlights eight protective sources including family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality, mental health, and medical access.
Sources of Strength moves prevention upstream by building resilience early and changing unhealthy norms around help-seeking and silence.
This approach can impact related challenges such as bullying, substance use, and school disengagement.
Peer influence spreads attitudes and behaviors through social networks. Sources of Strength equips youth leaders to spread hope, help, and strength.
Peer Leaders are not counselors; they are culture shifters who normalize reaching out and supporting one another.
Sources of Strength is one of the most rigorously evaluated upstream prevention programs in the world. Peer leader teams are active across the United States, Canada, Australia, and in many American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations communities, with new teams launching every year.
Through long-term research partnerships, Sources of Strength has been recognized on national evidence-based program registries, including the former SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Findings based on Wyman, P. A. et al. (2010), An outcome evaluation of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program delivered by adolescent peer leaders in high schools, American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), 1653–1661.
Sources of Strength collaborates with leading universities, research institutes, and public health agencies to evaluate the program’s impact and adapt the model for diverse communities.
