A program focused on strengthening the support network around local youth is returning to Laramie this month.
Cathedral Home will host its second annual “Coaches Who Care” suicide prevention training March 23–26, offering free sessions designed for coaches, mentors, and youth leaders who work with kids ages 10–18.
The training helps adults recognize warning signs of mental health struggles, start meaningful conversations with young people, and connect them with the right resources when they need help. The goal is simple but powerful: strengthen the trusted relationships young people already have with the adults around them.
Last year’s launch of the program saw nearly 50 coaches and youth leaders from about 13 Laramie organizations participate. Many reported leaving the training feeling more confident about how to talk with young people about mental health and how to step in when a child may be struggling.
Local softball coach Nick Hauser, who attended the training last year, said the experience changed his perspective.
“I went into Coaches Who Care thinking I might pick up a few tips,” Hauser said. “I left realizing how much of a difference we can make just by paying attention and being willing to ask hard questions.”
Research shows that having just one caring adult in a young person’s life can significantly reduce their risk of suicide, which is why programs like this matter so much in communities like Laramie.
“Coaches Who Care is about strengthening the safety net around our kids,” said Rachel LeBeau, Advancement Director at Cathedral Home. “When coaches and leaders feel confident having conversations about mental health, it helps build a community where every young person has someone they can turn to.”
This year’s training sessions will take place at Cathedral Home’s campus, the Laramie Recreation Center, and Laramie High School.
Community members who work with youth and want to participate can learn more or register at:
cathedralhome.org/coaches
Founded in 1910, Cathedral Home is a long-standing Laramie organization providing mental health care, counseling, crisis shelter services, and family support programs for youth across Wyoming.
For many local kids, having a coach, mentor, or leader who knows how to listen and respond can make all the difference — and programs like Coaches Who Care are helping ensure those adults are ready when it matters most.
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