Peer Support
Tina Aghdam
Editor-in-Chief
As we progress through the semester, we must be mindful of our mental health as we manage our workload in school. As we are readjusting to our school routine after the spring break, some of us may find it more difficult to find time for self-care, which can turn into a burden for our mental health. There are many campus resources that aim to provide support for students, including Peer Support.
As the name suggests, Peer Support is a program that aims to provide student-to-student support when dealing with general mental health challenges. Discussing with a peer can be an effective way of managing stress, anxiety, or other issues that one might encounter. It could be easier to discuss with a peer you might relate to, hence the nature of the program. Talking with someone in a judgement-free environment can often be helpful when dealing with certain events that could be more difficult to manage, and it could make one feel much better afterwards. In addition to this, peer supporters can also help direct you toward specific resources offered by the college that can be helpful to address any particular situation you may be facing.
The Peer Support team is comprised of students who have undergone training to provide support and listen to anything you have to say. This program is entirely free and confidential, and it is open to all students who choose to access it.
Abbott’s counselling team recently partnered with the Student Support Program called Keep.meSAFE on the My SSP app in order to improve the accessibility of counselling services to students, even during hours when the services do not operate on campus. This service is free for all students and accessible from anywhere at any time, and it even includes a peer support chat option for anyone who prefers to discuss with another peer they can relate to.
Peer Support operates on a drop-in basis on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 to 2:30, where students are available to listen and discuss. To access this service, you could visit the Health and Wellness Centre in room H-138 during these times and talk to the receptionist. For more information on this program, you could reach Peer Support via MIO on Omnivox.
Oftentimes, workload and life in general can feel overwhelming. It is important to keep in mind that mental health is an essential component of well-being that should not be overlooked.