The UBCO Peer Support Network (PSN) was founded in 2014 and is a space on campus where students can come and speak with a peer about a challenge, struggle, and/or personal hardship they may be facing. As a paraprofessional service, the PSN does not diagnose or treat mental illness and is not a substitute for services provided by health professionals (e.g., counsellors, psychologists, social workers, physicians). Rather than giving advice, volunteers will be there to provide welcoming, confidential, and empathetic peer-based support using active listening and resource referral. Alongside the Women’s Resource Center and the Pride Resource Center, the Network will strive to ensure that no student feels alone no matter what concern they are struggling with and will aim to increase awareness of mental health and wellness within the campus community.
To provide the above-mentioned service and to achieve its goals, the PSN operates by the following values:
- Confidentiality: To ensure the trust of our peers, the Peer Support Network follows a confidentiality agreement.
- Belonging and acceptance of diversity: The Peer Support Network is a safe and positive space for ALL students to ensure that no one is alone when facing an issue or struggle.
- Community: The Peer Support Network is dedicated to contributing to a campus community that embraces the health and well-being of all members.
- Safety: The Peer Support Network strives to ensure the safety of both its volunteers and users.
For more information about the Peer Support Network, please contact psn@suo.ca.
