2008-09 Wellness Peer Educators

Very Top: Wellness Moose!

On Top (From Left to Right): Jonathan Brick, Dr. Natalie Rice-Thorp, Dr. Tiffany O'Meara, Elizabeth Aong

On Bottom (From Left to Right): Yong Park, Katherine Oakley, Alyssa Patricio, Amreet Thiara, Moksha Chattopadhya, Shilpa Chode

Not pictured: Sean Cook

The CAPS Wellness Peer Educator Program was started in the 2004-2005 school year. The goal of the Wellness Peer Education program is to educate fellow students about mental health and wellness, reduce stigma and spread awareness of Counseling and Psychological Services on campus. Wellness Peer Educators participate in All Peer training in basic counseling skills, group facilitation, crisis management and ethics, and how to construct and implement outreach and workshop presentations. The Wellness Peer Educators host a number of events throughout the year, including:

• National Depression Screening Day
• National Sleep Awareness Week "Sweet Dreams" Event
• Spring Quarter "Stress Free Zone"
• Building Healthy Relationship Workshops
• Tabling events to educate students about CAPS services
• Peer educator recruitment

The Wellness Peer Educators also plan, develop, advertise and deliver psycho-educational workshops and interactive presentations related to mental health and wellness. Topics include:

• Assertiveness Training
• Building Self/Social Confidence
• Communicating Love and Appreciation in Relationships
• Financial Wellness
• Love and Healthy Relationships
• Mindfulness/Mindful Walking
• Recognizing Depression and Anxiety
• Relaxation Training
• Sleep 101
• Stress Management
• Suicide Prevention
• Time Management

Some of the groups the Wellness Peer Educators have presented to includee:

• Course lectures/discussion sections
• Emerging Leaders Program
• Express to Success
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Jenna Druck Foundation
• Psi-Chi
• Resident Advisor Training
• Student Health Advocates
• UCSD Residence Halls

A few Wellness Peer Educators have the opportunity to co-facilitate various groups and forums within Counseling and Psychological Services. These groups include:

• Building Social Confidence
• Stress Management through Relaxation Training and Biofeedback
• Mindfulness
• Peace of Mind

If you are interested in becoming a peer educator for the Wellness Peer Education program, please complete an online application during Spring quarter. Applications are typically accepted in mid-April for the next academic year. There will be an Information Session about the program and application process each April, so check back for specifics regarding time and location. For more information about the program, or to request a presentation for your group, you can contact Dr. Tiffany O’Meara at (858) 534-1579 or by email at tmomeara@ucsd.edu, or Dr. Natalie Rice-Thorp at (858) 534-3875 or by email at nmrice@ucsd.edu.

Check us out on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=9449892722&ref=ts

The deadline to apply to be a peer educator for 2009-10 was 4/17/09 at 12pm. If you have any questions about the Wellness Peer Education Program, please contact Dr. Tiffany O'Meara at 858-534-1579.