Students have a chance to learn how to help peers in distress. Applications are open through May 9 for students to be part of the Peer Mental Health Partner program, which will give students the chance to learn mental health first aid and how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health struggles in their peers.
Taking place on May 23, the program will train students to respond to their peers in distress in a way that will help alleviate the situation.
The training is already one that all junior peer leaders receive and over 200 Lab employees received in 2021. For the third year, all U-High students have a similar opportunity to build on those skills and learn how to become a support system for others.
Counselor Camille Baughn-Cunningham helped coordinate and plan the program.
“We know that a lot of times before a student will go to see their counselor or talk to their parents, they might connect to a friend,” Dr. Baughn-Cunningham said. “So if that friend can be of support, that’s great — and if that friend can help guide them to additional support, if that’s what seems to be needed, fantastic.”
The program focuses on helping students know what to look for and how to respond and start conversations with their peers who are struggling.
Dr. Baughn-Cunningham explained, “So giving them things to observe in their peers and in themselves, as well as giving them some tools to know how to ask questions or bring concerns to the attention of the other student.”
Learning and counseling faculty want students to understand the importance and the priority of mental health as well as how to support their peers.
Dr. Baughn Cunningham said, “Without our health and well-being, nothing typically works the way we want it to.”
