About Us
Bentley CSD Peer Educators seek to increase campus awareness and decrease stigma regarding mental health issues by conducting education and prevention activities about mental health directly with other students. Students are trained on a variety of mental health topics including depression, suicide prevention, anxiety, relaxation, stress management, healthy relationships, eating disorders, and sexual violence. They also develop strong skills in preparing, planning, and presenting information to groups and how to facilitate discussion around these topics.
If you want:
Information on becoming a Peer Educator
More information about the program, including our Mission Statement
List of our Annual Events
Information about our campus workshops on Healthy Relationships and Stress
Information about co-sponsoring an event or scheduling a workshop
National Depression Screening Day – October
National Depression Screening Day is an annual event on college campuses across the country. Stop by the Student Center or the Lower Café during lunchtime to learn more about depression and take our free, confidential screening test. Depression is one of the most common mental health issues facing college students, but it is also the most treatable and you or someone you care about can start to feel better quickly once the problem is identified. This is a great opportunity to learn more about yourself or find information to help a friend.
Fall Exam De-Stress – December
Sick from exam stress? Stop by our exam de-stress event and take a few minutes to relax. Studies have shown that taking a break can boost your performance, so don’t miss it!
Fat-Talk Free Week – February
The opportunity of a lifetime – 24 hours without talking about fat! Fat Talk Free® Week is an international, five-day public awareness effort to draw attention to body image issues and the damaging impact of the “thin ideal” on women. Our bodies are no different than any other object or living being in our care. Hate them and we are likely to abuse them. Love them and we will finally begin down the road to health. A pledge to STOP FAT TALK, including comments about yourself, others, or celebrities offers an opportunity to experience life WITHOUT FAT-TALK. Try it, and see how much differently you can feel about your body and yourself. What you’ll find just might surprise you.
Spring Exam De-Stress – May
Sick from exam stress? Stop by our exam de-stress event and take a few minutes to relax. In the Spring, this event is held outdoors with games and fun-in-the-sun, so bring your sunscreen and don’t miss it!
Other Campus Activities
Look for Peer Educators at other annual campus events, including Love Your Body Day, Consent Day, and others. We look forward to connecting with you!
CSD Peer Education Workshops
Each year, CSD Peer Educators facilitate workshops on topics relevant to college students. Workshops are interactive, fun, and educational. Anyone may schedule a workshop, including student organizations, RAs or RDs, professors, or other campus groups with an interest in the topic. Each workshop is facilitated by two or more Peers who are trained and supervised by CSD staff. Go here for information on scheduling a workshop.
Stress Management Workshop – Scheduled as requested
This interactive 60-minute workshop is a perfect educational and bonding opportunity for student groups and organizations. Through discussion and small-group interaction, you will learn how stress works in the body as well as how you can calm stress quickly and effectively. The workshop ends with a Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise, guaranteeing that everyone leaves feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Getting Real about Relationships – Scheduled as requested
One of the most exciting opportunities in college is making new and meaningful relationships with others. But how do you judge whether a particular friendship, romance, or study buddy is a healthy relationship for you? This interactive 60 minute workshop explores healthy vs. unhealthy behaviors in all types of relationships. During the workshop, we identify behaviors which lead to supportive and reciprocal relationships as well as behaviors which don't-- so that you can choose the relationships which bring out the best in you. Come join us, and you'll be better prepared to make those life-long college relationships!
The ABC’s of Good Zzzzz’s – Coming Spring 2012
This interactive 60-minute workshop provides information about what constitutes healthy sleep and teaches you the basics of good sleep habits. Through discussion and reflection, you will create individual sleep-plans to help you improve your sleep “IQ” and ability to get a good night’s rest. Join us, and never lose a good night of sleep again!
CSD Peer Educators Mission Statement (written by CSD Peers)
We are passionate about bettering Bentley through providing resources to foster personal growth and community development. We will promote this development through interactive programs and discussions that will ultimately serve as a catalyst for peer support throughout the campus. By encouraging students to utilize the resources provided by the Counseling Center we will create an atmosphere that promotes mental health. By reaching out to our peers we will educate them on the significance and benefits of leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
What is Peer Education?
Peer Education is a long-standing tradition on college campuses. Peers work as a student-driven team, mentored and supervised by professional staff of the University. The key to Peer Education is that it is Peer-to-Peer: students working directly with other students regarding topics relevant to college students. Overall, Peer Educators learn a lot, enjoy each other’s company, and have fun planning and executing various educational events around campus.
History of the CSD Peer Educator Program
As a part Counseling and Student Development’s (CSD) Develop U Initiative, the Peer Education Program serves and expands the mission and scope of CSD’s presence and impact on campus. Develop U is a campus-wide, multi-year intervention program based on extensive Focus Group data collected in 2007-2008. Overall goals for the Develop U Initiative include decreasing rates of depression and suicidality on campus, countering stigma about mental health, and increasing student engagement in healthy emotional coping and interpersonal relationships. The CSD Peer Educators work to achieve these goals through sponsorship of educational events and interactive workshops. See here for more information on the Develop U Initiative.
Becoming A Peer Educator
CSD Peer Educators are paid student employees. Because of the extensive training received, Peer Educators must be on campus for the full academic year following their acceptance in to the program and may not apply until Spring of their Freshman year. Peer Educators work approximately 5 hours per week, with some weeks requiring more hours and some requiring less. Because Peers offer programming to other students, evening and weekend work is required. Applications are accepted in the Spring for open positions in the following academic year. Contact Stephanie Kendall or Brenda Hawks in CSD for more information or be on the lookout for our advertisements in March/April each year.
To request a workshop, find out about co-sponsorship opportunities, or for more information on the program, please contact:
Stephanie Kendall or Brenda Hawks in CSD.
skendall@bentley.edu or bhawks@bentley.edu
781.891.2274
Peer Educator Program Summary and Job Description
