Mental Health Ambassador Program
EduPsych's Mental Health Ambassadors are a group of undergraduate and graduate students with a passion for mental health awareness, equity and inclusion, and breaking down barriers for all students to access support or treatment on campus. EduPsych MHAs will assist in the development and presentation of various topics for classroom presentations, campus partners, and community events. Our goal is to utilize the benefit of peer to peer education and the power of connection to continue to decrease stigma around help seeking and self-care. In addition to a significant time commitment, this program will require students to have strong communication and organizational skills, work well and respect all within a diverse group, display maturity and empathy and a high level of responsibility.
EduPsych MHAs will complete the Certified Peer Educator program and be trained in various areas of mental health, intersectionality and wellbeing. Each participant will shadow current Counseling Center & Prevention Services staff members and then be paired with other MHAs for all programs. Ambassadors will be prepared to educate peers in an effort to positively impact the EduPsych campus community through preventative education and fierce compassion for others.
Your BRAIN is your BRAND and YOU are the first BRAND AMBASSADOR for your mental healthcare. Be the ambassador for what you stand for. Take charge of your mental health and transform into a leader who isn't only an agent but a spectacle that propagates your real worth! Invest in your personal and professional growth by donning the Mental Health Ambassador role.
Aim
To make mental health a coffee table conversation - something that people find easy to talk about. This alone can be achieved if one and all choose to become a Mental Health Ambassador and a Mental Health Warrior and create, join and be a part of a mental health community that encourages genuine heartfelt conversations, offers a safe, non-judgmental and empathetic community.
Why Mental Health Ambassadors?
College students’ mental health has been challenged by several factors:
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College students are of high risk of experiencing mental health problems and/or mental disorders
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College students do not seek mental help from mental health professionals, even for severe problems, but seek help from peers
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Low mental health literacy affects college students’ health
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People do not seek the help they need due to stigma associated with mental disorders
Mental Health Ambassadors are the student allies of EduPsych and their respective college/university’s counseling services. They are trained to provide students with accurate information about mental health services on campus, increase students’ mental health literacy, and reduce stigma associated with mental disorders and mental health problems.
Who should join?
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One who is open to challenges and excited about learning
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One who has a positive attitude to mental health disorders and problems
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One who has a strong desire to improve mental health condition of those around you and fellow students
What will YOU GAIN?
EduPsych MHAs will complete the Certified Peer Educator program and be trained in various areas of mental health, intersectionality and wellbeing. Each participant will shadow current Counseling Center & Prevention Services staff members and then be paired with other MHAs for all programs. Ambassadors will be prepared to educate peers in an effort to positively impact the EduPsych campus community through preventative education and fierce compassion for others.
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Solid leadership experience and opportunities to participate in campus wide event planning and programming
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Completion of Certified Peer Educator (CPE) program through EduPsych
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Significant public speaking experience that will boost graduate school and/or career credentials
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Professional references
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Connections with others who share a passion for this work, but come from very different backgrounds and lived experiences
What will YOU LEARN?
Students will be trained in and offer standardized programs on the following topics:
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Introduction to the Counseling Center and Prevention Services and how to refer a friend
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Stress Management/Resiliency
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Healthy Relationships
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Diversity, Inclusion & Equity with a focus on intersectionality
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Communication Skills and Assertiveness/Conflict Resolution
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Anxiety and Depression Reduction strategies
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Assist with QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) #iHaveAfriend Program
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Mental Health Screenings and Tabling Events including Suicide Prevention Vigil, Stop the Stigma events, information fairs and Earth Fair
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Collaborate with each other and campus partners to create unique programming for an identified group, issue, or need in the campus community
Our projects
These projects are a part of our Mental Health Ambassador Program and these shall be led by the ambassadors to help them gain leadership skills.
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Mental Health Adda
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#iHaveAfriend Counseling Helpline
Mental Health Adda
EduPsych's Mental Health Adda is a community for everyone who wishes to take care of their mental health. It is a free, activity-oriented support group cum listening circle that invites people to start meaningful and heartfelt conversations about their issues, in a safe and non-judgmental space, facilitated by a Therapist. These Addas aka sessions are based on the principles of a Group Therapy session. Each session has a different topic of discussion. So, you need not be battling a mental illness to join this support group. You are a Mental Health Warrior if you are looking out for yourself.
In our experience, the hardest thing about enduring pain is not the hurt it causes but the burden of doing it alone. Whether you’re shouldering your troubles alone or if you’re lucky enough to have a support system of family and friends – there inevitably comes a time when people around us don’t get what we are going through. Or we feel stuck in conveying the magnitude of our troubles.
Having a community of mental health warriors to lean on, share with and listen to is an invaluable resource. Our vision with this Adda is that we can be there for each other. We can offer help, suggestions and feedback. We can share our stories to make others feel less alone in their struggles. In the middle of a busy internet, we can take this safe-private space to support ourselves and others.
Sharing your story of struggle and endurance with others is a powerful way to heal. EduPsych's "Mental Health Adda" offers you a safe space to seek solace and heal through the power of community. The sessions are conducted by EduPsych's expert psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists. Meet other people who are going through what you're suffering from, hear their stories and share yours. Together we'll find meaning in our pain and overcome what's holding us back in life.
#iHaveAfriend Counseling Helpline
Telephone counselling offers the same services as face to face counselling except that it is conducted over the phone. In the past, this medium was predominantly used for crisis intervention. However, in recent times there seems to be a much greater openness to this form of counselling even in non-crisis situations. Although face to face counselling remains the more popular form of counselling, telephone counselling offers certain advantages that can make it a more suitable option for some.
Unlike some helplines that are run by volunteers, #iHaveAfriend is a free counselling helpline that is run by trained and qualified volunteers. The service offers anonymity, which means that the identity of the caller remains anonymous.
We understand that it is not easy to reach out and share your concerns with someone over the phone, especially when you are not familiar with them. We appreciate the effort it must have taken you to take this first step towards growth and progress and understand that there may be some apprehensions about sharing sensitive information and whether it is safe to do so.
It is for this very reason that our volunteers take their time to explain the helpline’s policy of confidentiality at #iHaveAfriend when you first connect with us. The effectiveness of the counselling process depends heavily on the trust that exists between the volunteer and the caller. Any information you share remains completely confidential between you and the volunteers at #iHaveAfriend, except for when there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
The 'friend calling' process is a gradual one that entails an in-depth conversation with a volunteer who will take their time to fully understand your concern. Though the process of counselling (here, friend-calling helpline) is not a quick one you are assured of our continued support and care through the process.
This helpline can even help you connect with our counsellors at EduPsych. At EduPsych, counselling is a collaborative activity. Therefore, your role is crucial in identifying and understanding the problem and finding solutions to overcome them. Depending on your specific concern and the extent of distress you are experiencing as a result, our counsellors will then tap into their training to teach you certain skills and techniques to help you manage your distress better.
#iHaveAfriend volunteers who are trained by our counsellors at EduPsych and report directly to their mentors/trainers. During the process of this friend-calling helpline, suggestions or assignments or tasks may be made to enable you to move towards a solution. The tasks may involve activities to help with introspection, reflection, prioritization, or goal setting, to move constantly towards achieving the identified goals.
As the sessions progress, the volunteers, just like our counsellors keep a detailed account of how you are doing and will spend some time with you in planning the course of future sessions. Once the desired goal is achieved, the process of counselling (here, through an informal method of friend-calling) may end for the time being. However, it may be resumed at any point depending on your need for it.
EduPsych endeavours to provide a high-quality service which is ethical and professional; and utmost care will be taken to ensure that your experience is a pleasant one. Picking up the phone and giving us a call can therefore be the first step in the process of helping yourself feel better. So, from now on remember to say, #iHaveAfriend
Requirements
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There will be 12 hours of training so your availability is a must.
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EduPsych Mental Health Ambassadors will meet weekly on a decided time and date. Students must commit to not miss more than 3 meetings per quarter.
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EduPsych MHAs must complete at least 5 outreach presentations per quarter. All presentations are co-presented with senior staff or other MHAs.
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EduPsych MHAs is a one year commitment. Only apply if you can commit to both semesters.
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Must have and maintain a minimum of 2.8 GPA.
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If you are a 1st semester student, please share your most recent GPA (other college or high school).
If you are an aspirant of the MHA Program, please apply here:
Mental Health Ambassador Application
If you know of someone who is fit for the role of an MHA, complete the following online form. References should come from those who are able to evaluate the referred to in a professional context (professors, advisors, employers, etc.).
Mental Health Ambassador Reference
If you are a professional therapist who wishes to add training hours to their practice, complete the following online form. Please make sure that you are willing to offer your time and services to this program pro bono and agree to the 3 Cs of our company - Commitment, Communication, and Confidentiality.
Mental Health Ambassador Program Facilitator’s Application
If you've recognized your brain as your brand, we invite you to become your own ambassador first and open up avenues that bring you health, wealth and happy relationships. Commit to this 1 year MHA Program to transform your life forever!