Are you interested in educating your classmates about health topics? Do you love to plan events, meet others, come up with creative ideas for marketing and practice healthy behaviours?
If so, we invite you to volunteer as a peer health educator (PHE). You'll learn more about important health issues and you'll develop teamwork and communication skills by conducting a variety of educational programs. Gain self-confidence and valuable experience in leadership, event management, marketing and relationship building as you work with the university community on wellness initiatives.
As a peer health educator, you will:
- Educate your peers about services and resources in Wellness Services
- Present health and wellness topics in a fun and engaging manner.
- Attend and organize special events and awareness weeks.
Peer health educators work to educate their fellow students and the university community about health related issues such as:
Stress, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, sex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), building healthy relationships, choosing a healthy lifestyle, eating disorders and financial strategies.
PHEs meet weekly to plan their initiatives and engage in training opportunities. Additional time commitments include special events as determined by the group throughout the course of the semester, and other leadership and training opportunities that arise. Explore the role of a Peer Health Educator for more information.
What our PHEs are saying:
I love PHE because it's such a great way to connect with other health-passionate students and have an impact on the Mount Royal community. It also opens doors to learn and build your resume, with the workshops, seminars, and other events that are accessible for PHEs.
- Shelan
My involvement in the PHE program is the best thing I've done as a student here at Mount Royal. I've made so many new friends and learned more about the resources available to support students on campus. The program has also allowed me to learn and expand on my interpersonal communication and leadership skills. I have received additional training through the program in sexual assault disclosure and in mental health. These important skills will serve me well in the present as well as wherever I may end up in the future. This is a great opportunity for any student who wants to be more involved and produce meaningful change on campus - while having a lot of fun at the same time!
- David
Apply now
The application to volunteer for the PHE team for the 2023-2024 school year is now closed.
Peer to Peer Mental Health Educator
Peer to peer mental health educators (P2PMHE) are student volunteers committed to raising awareness and educating their peers about mental health and mental illness.
As a peer to peer mental health educator, you will:
- Engage in mental health training.
- Plan outreach events around mental health.
- Facilitate classroom presentations to other students, if interested.
- Promote mental health resources on campus.
You will gain communication, leadership and event planning skills, as well as have the opportunity to work with student leaders across campus to build an inclusive community. Explore the Peer to Peer Mental Health Education Program Terms of Reference for more information.
The P2PMHEs meet weekly to plan their initiatives and engage in training opportunities. Additional time commitments include a weekend in September for initial training, event times as determined by the group throughout the course of the semester and other additional training opportunities as they arise.
What our P2PMHEs are saying:
I've felt, and I continue to feel, very fulfilled being involved in helping others while also personally and professionally developing my mental health knowledge and skill set. Thus, the P2P program fits my own mandate for developing practical skills related to my primary area of interest in counselling psychology.
- Student
I've really seen how such a great collaborative group of people can make a difference on campus to bring awareness to mental health issues and to start the conversation to reduce the stigma. Frequently, I've received comments about students not knowing about some campus resources, that is, until interacting with the P2P Mental Health group.
- Vanessa
Stepping Up Peer Facilitator
Stepping Up is a research-based program that focuses on the prevention of dating violence.The program is designed by students, for students. We recruit students to facilitate the Stepping Up program because we know that students are experts of their own experiences and can have the greatest impact on the MRU community. Peer facilitators are students who are passionate about talking to their peers about healthy relationships and preventing dating violence in the community. Explore the role of a Stepping Up Peer Facilitator for more information.
As a peer facilitator, you will:
- Commit to participating in a year-long program beginning in September and ending in April.
- Commit to the dates for development/ training opportunities. Contribute to a variety of prevention programming, including workshops, events, and online initiatives.
- Gain further understanding and knowledge about dating, domestic and sexual violence as it pertains specifically to university students.
- Increase group facilitation skills, understanding and implementation of how to develop program curriculum.
Requirements for peer facilitators:
- Attend peer facilitator training
- Participate in monthly team meetings and events
- Develop and deliver informative workshops and events
- Support Stepping Up participants in developing and delivering prevention projects
What our peer facilitators are saying:
It may seem like an exaggeration when I say that being a peer facilitator in Stepping Up changed my life, but I assure you it isn't... the energy during the weekends that facilitators met was incredible... the learning about myself, and those I was sharing space with was simply amazing.
- Tiffany
Apply now
Applications for the 2023-24 school year are now OPEN; also, registration is open to attend the Stepping Up Workshop as a participant. For more information, go to mru.ca/steppingup.
Many thanks to the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Community and Social Services for continued funding of the Stepping Up project.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Program Coordinator at steppingup@mtroyal.ca or visit the website.