WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - Kayla Overmeyer and her peers rehearsed speaking in front of school board officials multiple times.The goal was to get their support in efforts to prevent another tragedy.

Last year, two of Overmeyer's classmates died by suicide. They want to start a conversation about mental health, responding to a crisis and creating a safe space for teens. 

"Not only were (we) losing people, we were losing time and school," Overmeyer said as she recalled her 2020 school year. "I'm just hoping everybody hears us and understands where we're coming from." 

The high school student, including five others student leaders, are with Jared's Keepers Foundation. JKF is a nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention. Students came up with a plan on their own to address suicide.

Williamsville student Caden Crowder was the catalyst to creating a mental-health related group. Overmeyer was part of the organization and writing. Overall, it was a collaborative effort from the students. 

In a 2015 study, the Illinois Department of Public Health showed suicide as the third leading cause of death for Illinoisans between 10-19. Overmeyer and her classmates will also serve as a crisis intervention team. Deb Martin, the founder of JKF, had the teens trained. 

"Sometimes we just have to teach them to be some leaders once in a while and show them they have a lot more inside of them," Martin said. 

During Monday night's school board meeting, the student's ideas were embraced with a round of applause. Tip Reedy, Williamsville's superintendent, confirmed to the students school officials back them up. 

"When your students' voices are heard and they can move forward and help take care of each other," Reedy said. "At the end of the day, we're all bullets and BBs." 

Suicide is preventable. If you or someone you know shows warning signs, call the national prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.Â