Idaho has one of the nation’s highest teen-age suicide rates, and eight Idaho schools will pilot a program designed to combat the problem.

The schools will receive support and training and $3,000 to implement Sources of Strength, a program that  utilizes social networking in an effort to prevent suicide, bullying and substance abuse. Community health care providers also will receive training in how to prevent teen suicide, and how to respond to crises.

The Idaho Lives Project grant recipients were chosen from a field of 18 applicants:

• Teton High School, Driggs.
• Silver Creek Alternative High School, Hailey.
• Lapwai Middle School-High School, Lapwai.
• Nampa High School, Nampa.
• Parma High School, Parma.
• Parma Middle School, Parma.
• Priest River Lamanna High School, Priest River.
• Salmon Middle School-High School, Salmon.

This is the first phase of the Idaho Lives Project, which is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered locally by the state Education Department and the Suicide Prevention Action Network of Idaho. The state will receive $1.29 million over three years.

An additional 10 to 14 schools will be selected to implement the Sources of Strength program in 2014-15, the Education Department said Tuesday.

Here’s a link to the Education Department news release.