The peer education teams within the Office of Health Promotion in the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience are recruiting new, diverse groups of peer educators for the 2018-19 academic year. As peer educators, undergraduate students work with the Office of Health Promotion to provide educational presentations and outreach on various health and wellness topics to students.
Crystal Hendriks, a senior in Falk College, has been a peer educator for two years. The experience has shaped her student experience, both professionally and personally. “Being a peer educator for mental wellness has not only taught me strategies and skills to engage a campus community on mental health topics, but has given me a space to practice mental wellness for myself,” says Hendriks.
Health and wellness peer educators at work in the Schine Student Center atrium.
Students interested in becoming peer educators can apply for either of the following peer educator teams:
Peer Educators Encouraging Healthy Relationships and Sexuality (PEEHRS)
The PEEHRS educate students on a range of topics related to sexual health and interpersonal violence prevention. Current programs relate to consent, sexual health, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, and sexual and relationship violence prevention.
Students Advocating for Mental Health Empowerment (SAMHE)
SAMHE educates students on a range of topics related to mental health and wellness. Current programs relate to sleep, stress reduction, time management and mindfulness. SAMHE is currently looking to expand programming and is seeking additional topic ideas.
“I joined the mental wellness team because I wanted to break down the stigma around mental illness and getting support,” Hendriks says. “It definitely turned into appreciating holistic well being and being surrounded by kind and hardworking people.”
The PEEHRS application and the SAMHE application are both available online and are accepted on an ongoing basis. Once students submit their application, they will be asked to interview. Interviews begin this week.
Peer educators have a minimum time commitment of three-to-five hours a week. Throughout the week, peer educators are expected to attend a weekly meeting, participate in and give trainings, hold office hours in the Office of Health Promotion, and provide programming to the campus community.
For more information or questions, visit the Office of Health Promotion website or email healthpromotion@syr.edu.
