Peers Supporting Peers (PSP)

 

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The PSP Program runs between September and April each year. Mentee applications for One-on-one Peer Mentorship (Stream 1) are accepted between August - October for the Fall term, and between November - February for the Winter term. For information about Weekly Drop-in Peer Support (Stream 2) and Peer-facilitated Workshops (Stream 3), please see below.

Interested in supporting student mental health at UTM? We're recruiting PSP Mentors! 

Program Overview

The Peers Supporting Peers (PSP) Program is a peer support program, which receives oversight, training support, and supervision from UTM Health & Counselling Centre staff. The program aims to provide students with the following outcomes to help them achieve their personal and academic goals: 

  1. Individualized strategies (e.g., healthy lifestyle tips, academic skills),
  2. Knowledge of community resources, and 
  3. Personal support (empathy, active listening) 

The program emphasizes the strengths of the shared, peer-to-peer experience of students; and aims to provide support that complements, but does not replace, professional interventions.

Program Streams

Stream 1: One-on-one Peer Mentorship

Peer Mentors* are matched on a one-on-one basis with Mentees**, based on similar interests, programs of study, and/or other relevant characteristics.

  • *Peer Mentors: Upper-year UTM students and UTM graduate students
  • **Mentees: UTM Lower-year students

Mentees meet with their assigned Peer Mentor once a week, over the course of 6 to 8 weeks in the semester, at a mutually agreeable time. Meetings are expected to last approximately one hour, and will take place in-person or virtually via Zoom.

Each meeting will be centered around a specific, wellness-themed learning module, facilitated by the Peer Mentor. Over the course of the program, Mentees will be able to gain individualized strategies (e.g., healthy lifestyle tips, academic skills), knowledge of community resources, and receive personal support (empathy, active listening) to help them achieve their personal and academic goals.

Stream 2: Weekly Drop-in Peer Support 

Peer Mentors offer weekly drop-in peer support on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00pm - 4:00pm at the Wellness Den (DV 2077A). Registration is not required.

Stream 3: Peer-facilitated Workshops

The Peers Supporting Peers Program offers Peer-Facilitated Workshops, which are open to all UTM students. Students can simply attend to listen and learn, or to connect 1:1 with a Mentor….the choice is yours! 

For more information about our upcoming workshop schedule and registration details, please click here.

Mentee Application: To apply to be a Mentee, please submit your application form here. A staff member from the UTM Health & Counselling Centre will be in touch subsequently to discuss next steps. At this time, this program is open to students currently residing in Ontario. 

Program Contact

For questions or concerns about the PSP Program, please contact: