Presented by

Ms. Taysier El-Gaili

Overview

Within any group of people, at any point in time, a significant percentage are experiencing personal and/or academic-related problems serious enough to affect their efficiency & well being in their personal lives. Suffering can be avoided & lives saved through an effective & confidential wellbeing program, which will help to identify troubled students, offer access to helpful resources and increase resilience.

The Student Counseling Centre, SCC, in Qatar University, QU, offers Stress Management workshops for QU students, and for select staff upon request. The term 'Wellbeing Peer Helper' refers to students who are trained to provide emotional support to their colleagues. Wellbeing Peer Helpers Program attempts to deliver an integrative approach in addressing students’ wellbeing through their engagement in a rigorously monitored collaborative strategic approach. Wellbeing Peers Training focuses on stress management, self-reflection, motivational interviewing and coping with change, communication skills, health campaigns, and personal growth. The Peer Helpers Program has proven to be beneficial to individuals during stressful times. “Research undertaken in Trinity College indicates that 78% of students would seek support from a close friend if feeling worried or under stress” (Kracen, Amanda, and et al 2003). Though more empirical research is needed to support the effectiveness of The Peer Helpers Program among employees, staff feedback and engagement was a determinant factor on its success; The Peer Helpers Program, PHP, has been offered previously at The United Nations Peace Keeping Operations in Sudan, and more than 10,000 staff members had benefited from the services during the period from 2006-2011. Peer Helpers were monitored closely through revision of their monthly reports, number of contacts with staff members, supervision, and follow up trainings. The UN model provides best practice model for adaptation by the Peer Helpers. Peer Education was used widely in health related issues within the UN scope with TOT manuals published such as “ Youth Peer Education Toolkit: Training of the Trainers”, by the United Nations Population Fund.

Target Audience

Doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, allied healthcare professionals, students, educators, counselors and administrators.

Objectives

1. Outline the definition of stress, the various types of stress, and associated signs and symptoms.
2. Outline how the Wellbeing Peer Helpers Program (WPHP) engages with students across the various dimensions of wellness.
3. Recognize how the Wellbeing Peer Helpers Program (WPHP) helps the students identify their stressors and what coping strategies work best for them.

Workshop Outline

References

Egan, G. (1998). The Skilled Helper: A Problem-Management Approach to Helping. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

BenerA, GhuloumS. Ethnic differences in the knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards mental illness in a traditional fast developing country. Psychiatria Danubina. 2011;23(2):157–164.

Kracen, Amanda. Peer Support Training Manual. Trinity College Dublin. 2003UNDSS, UNMIS Student Counselling And Welfare Section. Facilitators Manual for Peer Helpers and Family Focal Point, 2007.

The United Nations Population Fund. Youth Peer Education Toolkit: Training of the Trainers . 2005. ISBN: 0-897-14759-6