Proactive Student Mental Health: How SchoolPulse Is Preventing Teen Suicide Before Crisis Hits
Feb 25, 2026
Proactive student mental health is no longer optional. Schools across the country are facing rising levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide among teens. The question is no longer if schools should act, but how they can act before tragedy happens.
In 2017, one small Utah community experienced something heartbreaking. “In 2017, we had seven students that took their life by suicide in our little community here and it was wild,” said Iuri Melo, therapist and co-founder of SchoolPulse .
Seven lives. One community. A wake-up call.
What came next wasn’t another reactive program. It wasn’t just more crisis response. It was a shift toward prevention.
This is the story of SchoolPulse and why proactive suicide prevention in schools is changing the way we support teens.
From Reactive to Proactive: Why Schools Need a New Mental Health Strategy
After losing two students, a local high school principal approached Iuri with frustration and urgency.
He said everything at his disposal felt reactive. Like “a fire extinguisher on the wall.” Waiting for crisis to happen before breaking the glass.
That image says everything.
Too many schools operate in emergency mode. A student reports self-harm. A parent calls in panic. A counselor responds to a crisis. Important? Yes. Enough? No.
Iuri and the principal began asking a new question:
What if schools focused less on risk factors and more on protective factors?
Instead of only reacting to depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidal ideation, what if schools built mental strength before students hit a breaking point?
That question led to SchoolPulse.
What Is SchoolPulse? A Proactive Mental Health Program for Teens
SchoolPulse is a text-based mental health support platform built specifically for middle and high school students.
It started small. Just one weekly text with a short check-in questionnaire .
But something interesting happened.
Students responded.
Then they started texting back.
The original system wasn’t interactive. So the team changed it. They began responding in real time.
And that changed everything.
Today, SchoolPulse sends students supportive content every Tuesday and Friday. Tuesdays focus on mental health skills. Fridays share inspirational content .
Students can:
- Text back privately
- Ask for help
- Share struggles
- Receive personalized responses
- Get connected to school counselors or parents
It’s anonymous. It’s easy. It meets teens where they already are — on their phones.
And that matters.
Why Text-Based Support Works for Teens
Teens text constantly. It’s how they communicate. It’s natural.
Walking into a counselor’s office can feel intimidating. But sending a text? That feels safe.
When students text SchoolPulse, they are met with what Iuri calls a Positive Interaction Team. Trained responders who greet them with “enthusiasm and kindness”.
The focus isn’t just crisis. It’s connection.
Students struggling with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loneliness
- Family issues
- Academic stress
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Abuse
…can reach out instantly.
The team’s goal is always to:
- Provide immediate support
- Offer relevant mental health videos
- Connect students to parents or school professionals
About 85–90% of crisis interventions are successfully routed through the school .
And here’s something powerful:
SchoolPulse has served over 100,000 users. To the best of their knowledge, they have not lost a single student to suicide .
That is proactive prevention in action.
Building Protective Factors: The Science Behind It
SchoolPulse is built on evidence-based practices. It draws from:
- Positive psychology
- Growth mindset principles
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Protective factor research
Instead of only addressing what’s wrong, the program builds what’s strong.
Students receive short, engaging videos (5–8 minutes long) that address real teen issues without being “cringey” .
Topics include:
- Public speaking anxiety
- Test performance
- Athletic mindset
- Sadness and depression
- Friendship struggles
- Loneliness
- Stress management
This isn’t fluff. It’s mental fitness training.
As Iuri explains, schools hire SchoolPulse to “multiply their ability to extend support to their students”.
That’s scalable impact.
A Mission Bigger Than Business
SchoolPulse wasn’t built just as a side project.
It was built from a mission.
“My mission is truly to bless the human family,” Iuri shares .
That mission shows up in how the program operates:
- Anonymous student access
- Parent education campaigns
- Evidence-based resources
- Collaboration with schools
- Grant partnerships
- State-level implementation
Today, the program is in more than 300 schools, including statewide contracts .
It works from the top down and the bottom up.
Sometimes a district brings it in.
Sometimes parents advocate.
Sometimes school counselors champion it.
But the goal stays the same: proactive student mental health support.
Why Every School Needs Proactive Suicide Prevention
We cannot stop every crisis. That’s reality.
But we can reduce barriers.
We can increase connection.
We can strengthen resilience.
We can build protective factors.
The old model waits for a student to break.
The new model checks in before they do.
The difference is life-changing.
When students receive a simple text twice a week asking how they are doing, it sends a powerful message:
You matter.
We see you.
You are not alone.
Over time, that consistency builds trust. Some students even ask to continue receiving texts after graduation .
That’s not just a program.
That’s a lifeline.
Resources & Mentions
- 2-Minute Overview Video: A brief summary of the SchoolPulse service and how schools implement the strategy
- A comprehensive Mental Health Resource Page
- SchoolPulse – https://schoolpulse.org
- SchoolPulse Video Library for Teens – Collection of short, practical videos created specifically for adolescents
- Get SchoolPulse by contacting Iuri Melo – [email protected]
- Know Thy Selfie: Tips, Tricks & Tools for an Awesome Life and Mind Over Grey Matter by Iuri Melo
- Scaling Therapist Services – https://scalingtherapistservices.com
- Listen to the interview STP 150
15 Ways To Create Income Flow from What You Already Know
Subscription give you weekly updates on blogs, podcasts, webinars, and offers from CCS and their partners. We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
