This semester, DePauw Counseling Services will be recruiting upperclassmen for a new Peer Education Program, which will start during the 2013-2014 academic school year.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), negative stigmas about mental illness often lead an affected person to ignore his or her symptoms, and the new program is designed to combat this sentiment.
The program is founded by Dr. Bud Edwards, whose specialty is group psychotherapy and multicultural issues. According to Edwards, peer educators will develop, market and deliver educational tools to the DePauw community. Counseling Services hopes to extend its outreach programs to cover mental and physical health issues affecting students.
"Many college campuses have programs like this where the counseling center employs a group of students to be part of a program that promotes outreach resources related to health and psychoeducational information," Dr. Scott Hamilton, Wellness Center counselor and co-chair of the Peer Education Program, said.
The outreach program intends to address physical and mental health concerns in an open, interactive, educational and fun way. Currently, Counseling Services outreach programs include alcohol and drug abuse, body image and eating disorders, difference and diversity, interpersonal relationships, introduction to counseling services, sexual assault and stress management.
"Having a program to help students educate their peers will help DePauw students cope with stress, which leads to larger problems in the future," sophomore Korrine Spears said.
Students and staff are encouraged to contact Peer Education with topics they believe should be addressed by the program. The Wellness Center also hopes to promote personal and professional development for students from all backgrounds through the program.
"The Peer Ed program will help us expand our outreach efforts to the campus. Through developing this core group, we can connect with the campus on the student level," Hamilton said .
The Peer Educators will participate in a weekly panel of students to develop creative ways to expand the outreach programs. Additionally, Peers will help refine existing programs and create new ones.
"Any student is welcome to apply," Hamilton said. "Learning can be a key component to each individual's academic and personal growth."
Hamilton will start the program in the fall of 2013. Training seminars begin this spring. Applications to be a Peer Educator are due Weds., March 13.