A Mental Health Program Brings Peer Connection and Support to Buffalo High School and New West High School

Johnson County has the fourth highest suicide rate per capita in Wyoming, and Buffalo has experienced the weight of youth suicide in recent years, leaving students feeling scared and disconnected. A city clerk who had previously worked to bring a mental health program to a neighboring community saw an opportunity to help, so she reached out to LOR with a solution: bring the Jae Foundation’s High School Senior Boots program to Buffalo High School and New West High School. LOR’s funding will help Buffalo High School and New West High School participate in the Jae Foundation’s High School Boots for Seniors event. Students will receive “Jae Boots” and participate in discussions about mental health, suicide prevention, and resilience on weekly “Boot-Check Days,” building a school-wide culture of connection, belonging, and peer support that extends beyond conversation into meaningful mental health action.