With teen suicide remaining a leading cause of death for Arizona youths, high school athletes from across the state, including five from Gilbert, teamed up to send a message: help is always available, and no one has to face their struggles alone.

Forty students from 24 Arizona high schools are participating in the 2025 Messages of Hope video campaign from Teen Lifeline during Teen Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September.

 Football players, flag football players, cheerleaders and members of the Reserve Officers Training Corp are stepping up to share their voices and platforms to encourage peers to reach out if they’re struggling.

Those from Gilbert include: 

• Emma Watkins, varsity cheerleader at Campo Verde High School;
• Katie McCann, flag football player at Campo Verde High School;
• Mia Shea, varsity cheerleader at Campo Verde High School;
• Grady Crandall, free safety and wide receiver for the varsity football team at Highland High School;
• Zoey Fiorello, cheerleader at Perry High School.

This year’s campaign comes at a critical time. Teen Lifeline received more than 46,000 calls and texts in 2024, with one in three coming from teens considering suicide.
 
Between Jan. 1 and July 31 of this year, hotline volunteers have already fielded more than 25,500 calls and texts — with the highest projected call volumes of the year still ahead. Calls historically peak in August and September, making this a critical time to reach teens with messages of hope.
 
“Every student who steps in front of the camera for this campaign is doing something incredible — they’re telling other teenagers, ‘Your life matters, and you’re not alone,’” Nikki Kontz, chief clinical officer at Teen Lifeline, said in a release. “When that message comes from a peer who is recognized as a leader on campus, it can inspire teens to ask for help.”
 
Recorded this year at a high school in Paradise Valley, Messages of Hope videos feature both individuals and joint messages with students from rival schools.
The spots will run throughout September on player, team and school social media accounts and, when possible, during morning announcements on participating campuses.