Campus Well-Being is excited to announce RRC Polytech’s new Peer Support Program – an additional resource created to support you through your academic journey.  

Are you looking for someone who really gets it? Our Peer Supporters are fellow students with a wide range of lived experience – whether through their own challenges or by supporting a loved one. They are trained to provide confidential social and emotional support, offering a compassionate ear and relatable perspective.

While Peer Support is not a replacement for professional help, it’s a meaningful way to connect, feel heard, and find hope and can be accessed on its own or alongside other resources, like Student Counselling Services.

If you would like to learn more or connect with a Peer Supporter, visit our website!

Background

RRC Polytech identified mental health peer support as a priority in its Healthy Minds Healthy College Strategy. With financial support from Bell Canada and the Students’ Association, RRC Polytech has worked with consultants to develop a student peer support program that will be launching in January of 2025!

What is Peer Support?

Peer support is social and emotional support between people who share a common lived experience with challenging life experiences, mental illness and/or addiction. Peer support is a worthy complement to clinical mental healthcare, as it supports well-being.

What do Peer Supporters Do?

A Peer Supporter is someone who uses their lived experience in combination with set competencies and formal training to inspire hope and empower others who are in similar situations by providing social and emotional support.

Some examples of Peer Supporter responsibilities include:

• Establish rapport with peers and build a relationship based on trust, respect, genuineness and empathy while maintaining clear boundaries;
• Respect and maintain confidentiality of personal information;
• Support peers as they strive to make positive changes and explore how to work towards their goals;
• Explore with peers the availability of existing resources. Empower and support peers in contacting and accessing appropriate services as required;
• Assist with promoting awareness of the Peer Support Program;
• Avoid providing peer support to individuals where a conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest may exist;
• Actively participate in Community of Practice and other professional development sessions as they arise to remain engaged and up to date with best practices and the evolution of the PSP

How to Book

Check out our program page to view all the Peer Supporters that are available. Each Peer Supporter has varying experience and availability.