"Peer support is a supportive relationship between people who have a lived experience in common. The peer supporter provides emotional and social support to others who share a common experience."
-Mental Health Commission of Canada
Hub Peer Supporters
Finding support doesn't need to be a solo journey!
From greeting you at the Hub Clinic, knitting on the bean bags of the Healthy Living Annex, to facilitating workshops and creative events in person or online, Healthier McGill's Hub Peer Supporters are here to listen and help without judgment, wherever you are on your well-being journey.
Hub Peer Supporters receive valuable training and work to:
- Promote healthier living on campus
- Increase access to physical and mental health services
- Help you navigate healthcare at McGill and beyond
- Create and facilitate peer support programming across campus
If you have a passion for helping others and want to learn new skills, follow Healthier McGill on Instagram and Facebook for position openings!
We hire and train students interested in engagement, outreach, media, training coordination, sexual health, harm reduction, and health navigation.
Here’s a secret - you don’t need to be a Hub Peer Supporter to receive training to support your fellow students! Take a look at the text below for more information on our programming.
Peer Support Training Opportunities
Peer Supporters have a crucial role to play in overall community mental health and their presence has seen a steep growth on university campuses in the last few years.
Can you guess why? Peers are often the first point of contact for students seeking support. In fact, many students who connect with another student may never walk into a clinic – and may never need to. For this reason and many more, our Hub Peer Supporters and all McGill Peer Support groups are integral to our community of care at the Hub and across campus.
The following lists our complimentary peer support trainings and mental health literacy programming:
Peer Support Training: A two-day, interactive training offered at the start of each semester that introduces you to skills, resources, and tools that can help you in supporting fellow students. Join Hub professionals and peer supporters from across campus to discover more about:
· Active listening
· Creating Healthier boundaries
· Harm reduction
· Navigating health care at McGill and beyond
· Practicing self-directed care
· And identifying resources and referrals on campus
Mental Health First Aid: A training created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. This three-modules/two-sessions training aims to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help students better manage potential or developing mental health difficulties in themselves, a family member, or a peer. Mental Health First Aid is facilitated by Student Wellness Hub Local Wellness Advisors and is offered regularly throughout the year.
Server Training: Planning a campus event? McGill's Alcohol Policy requires at least one event coordinator and ALL event servers are Server Trained. The University won't issue alcohol permits or book events until you complete this peer-led training. So, if you're planning a party, learn harm reduction tips to help you and your friends make safer choices when you consume. Ready to get server trained? Sign up on myInvolvement.
If you’re short on time, check out our on-demand How to Help a Friend video series to learn skills and tricks to reach out to a friend in need. Ensure that as you care for others, you also take care of yourself. Our Peer-to-Peer series are 5-7 minute videos; developed and recorded by Hub Peer Supporters to help you cultivate practical mental health and resiliency skills around topics from stress and time management to setting healthier boundaries.
Resources
In addition to the Student Wellness Hub offerings and the guidance from the Hub Peer Supporters, there are a variety of incredible campus student groups. We encourage you to reach out to the one that is the right fit for you including:
Eating Disorder Resource & Support Centre (SSMU)
SACOMSS (Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students' Society) (SSMU)
UGE (Union for Gender Empowerment) (SSMU)
More Involvement And Engagement Opportunities
Has the Student Wellness Hub already filled paid positions for the year? Do you want to get involved in mental health initiatives, sex education or general wellness on campus? There are opportunities through:
▶ Campus Life & Engagement (CL&E)
If you’d like to help others or boost your own mental and spiritual well-being by getting involved in the McGill community, this is the place to get more information about what’s happening on campus.
▶ Student Wellness Hub: There are so many ways to support your peers! Email us at peersupport.hub [at] mcgill.ca to start today!
▶ The Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS)
If you’d like to volunteer at the centre or request training on sexual assault sensitivity and supporting survivors, contact SACOMSS for more information.
▶ Office for Students with Disabilities: Mentor
If you’re interested in working with students registered at the Office for Students with Disabilities to support learning, inclusion and empowering others to reach their academic goals. You can submit your application to become a mentor here!
▶Office for Students with Disabilities: Study Partner
Match with other students, and together set up a time and place where you will meet for regular study sessions throughout the semester.
If you’re passionate about student mental health and There are opportunities to get involved at the Peer Support Centre on the executive team, Promotions and Outreach team, or as a peer supporter. Recruitment for the coming year takes place in the winter of each year
You can find volunteering opportunities in the community (and even internationally)! Check out the Career Planning Services' list
