To complement SUNY’s ongoing commitment to mental health and wellness, SUNY is partnering with Active Minds to organize a peer-to-peer advocacy model for students. We are seeking students who care and are willing to support their peers who may be experiencing challenging or stressful times. You can make a difference for someone in a moment of need. View the press release.
Active Minds will conduct a 90 minute interactive VAR Training (Validate, Appreciate, Refer) session for our students. Training is required to become a Peer Advocate. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Advocate, please complete the following Registration Form by Thursday, April 8. The free training will take place on Saturday, April 10 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm.
The training includes:
- Three easy steps to provide a path to listening and responding in a helpful way
- Students will learn how to respond via phone, text, email, in-person and video call
- Training also includes:
- Understand the meaning and usage of the V-A-R tool.
- Identify at least three “barriers” we may have in place that may impede our willingness to engage with someone about their struggles.
- Explore circumstances that may impact mental wellness among our peers, colleagues, students, employees, family, friends, etc.
- Engage with current trends in mental health, based on data
- Discuss the value and importance of self-care as a critical component of mental health
- Take-home resources explaining the V-A-R tool
Submitted by: Office of the Dean of Students
