Description
Wellness Peers volunteers are trained peer supporters, who provided support and resources to students looking for help with wellness, mental health, and navigating student life.
Position Overview
The Wellness Peers work to create a community of care at VIU by running and hosting the Wellness Lounge and by providing peer support to their fellow students. The Wellness Peers are in charge of setting-up, taking-down, and monitoring the physical space of the Wellness Lounge. The Wellness Peers work to create a friendly, welcoming, social, and supportive environment where students feel comfortable and safe to relax and connect. The Wellness Peers also engage students in wellness conversations and provide empathic listening to students as needed. They share information about on-campus and off-campus resources and can help students in distress get connected to other supports. The Wellness Peers also assist the Mental Health Strategist in tracking student engagement and measuring program impacts. Overall, the Wellness Peers model student leadership and contribute greatly to the health and wellness of the VIU Community.
Position Requirements
To qualify to be a Wellness Peer, students need to:
- Complete over 20hours of training in a number of areas including (but not limited to) interpersonal communication, empathic listening, mental health, trauma-informed practice, suicide alertness, inter-cultural humility, etc.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Have a passion for promoting wellness and mental health
- Have a desire and passion for connecting with new people
Graduate Attributes Associated
- Oral Communication
- Collaboration
- Capacity to Engage in Respectful Relationships
- Intercultural Perspective
- Ethical Reasoning
Position Type
Wellness Peer volunteers are responsible for completing a weekly shift in the Wellness Lounge throughout the academic year. Students are also required to attend ongoing to team building, supervision, and training meetings. For specific details on other position requirements please visit viu.ca/wellness-peers
Sign Up Directions
For more information, please contact Sara LaMarre, Mental Health Strategist, Student Affairs, at Sara.LaMarre@viu.ca