Hope 2 Heal
Peer Support Program
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Are you interested in improving your personal mental health and encouraging another classmate on a similar journey?
Have you experienced a journey with mental health and have always wanted to use your experience to help someone else on a similar journey? Are you a student currently experiencing challenges with your mental health and wish you knew a person who has walked in your shoes and could give you support and encouragement? If so, you should consider joining Hope 2 Heal (h2h) where we will match graduate students and upperclassmen with underclassmen who have a shared experience when it comes to mental health.
Program to start Spring 2024.
What is h2h?
Hope 2 Heal (h2h) is an informal mental health support program catered to college students dealing with mental health challenges. h2h is fostering a community of support in the college community where students are supporting other students.
h2h is using the lived experiences and compassion from existing college students who have a personal journey with mental illness and we are equipping those students with the resources and tools to go along the journey with a fellow student battling with mental illness. We call these students Healers. We are pairing those Healers with current students who are struggling with their mental health and are not receiving adequate support.
Program to start Spring 2024.
Why is h2h needed?
Mental illness has become one of the leading illnesses amongst the Generation Z population and it is projected that demand for mental health support will outpace resources available. College students have openly expressed concerns regarding the lack of availability of nearby counseling services. Other students have expressed reservations seeking professional help through formal counseling services all together. Lack of availability, lack of affordability, concerns about the lack of understanding and the societal stigmas associated with therapy are some of the reasons why students are not receiving adequate treatment.
Below are our beliefs and goals for H2H:
We believe individuals were met to suffer collectively and not individually. No one should suffer in silence.
We want to foster a community of support in the Oakland college community
We want to build safe spaces for those college students who do not have one
We want to introduce mental health in a casual setting.
Build connections between the mind and body. The mind and body are an interconnected system. Mental health is just as important as physical health
Change the connotations surrounding emotions and being vulnerable. Being vulnerable is a superpower not a weakness
How will h2h work?
We are providing a platform whereby students can support students as a way to improve mental health in an informal setting. We believe there is a pool of existing students (Healers) who have experienced their own journey with mental illness and have been given the compassion and tools to help others on their journey.
We believe the coping techniques and perspectives these students (Healers) have gained either through past therapy sessions, books or real-life experiences will prove beneficial for helping other students battling similar mental health struggles. Considering these students have similar lived experiences and understanding around mental health/illness, we believe in some respects they are well equipped to support struggling students.
Program to start Spring 2024.
Can I be considered a Healer?
We are excited that you are considering joining our program and being willing to take time out of your schedule to support another student.
Please review our eligibility requirements (below) and if you believe you meet the following criteria to be considered a Healer, please email Mayan at Uzima at oakland@uzima.live with your contact information and you will hear back from us for additional information.
Before being paired with a student, Healers will go through an orientation where they are given resources, tools and expectations will be established for the do’s and don’ts of the role of Healer.
Healer eligibility requirements:
must be a current student at one of the six nearby universities (Pitt, CMU, Carlow, Duquesne, Point Park or Chatham)
must have personal experience managing mental illness and/or supporting friends or family members with mental illness. You do not have to be formally diagnosed with a mental illness to be eligible as we understand many people are never clinically diagnosed.
must be considered a good listener
FAQs
When will h2h start and how long will it last?
Expected start date for h2h will be Spring 2024 and existing students at any of the participating colleges are able to register.
The relationship between Healer and student will last a minimum of 3-4 months (duration of 1 semester), but they will be encouraged to continue the relationship beyond the initial semester
How many students are you looking for?
For the pilot program this fall we are looking for only 20 students, but we envision expanding the program to more students in the spring.
Who can join h2h?
Any student enrolled at one of the following six universities can participate:
+ University of Pittsburgh + Carnegie Mellon University + Carlow University
+ Duquesne University + Chatham University + Point Park University
How will students be matched and introduced to one another?
Students will be paired with each other based upon a detailed questionnaire completed during the registration process and will be introduced to each other during a meet and greet at Uzima.
Are you a counselor and interested in supporting h2h?
If you are a certified counselor and interested in joining our community to provide counseling services in a limited setting to those students in need of additional support, please review our eligibility requirements and consider joining!
We are looking for the following requirements from our support counselors:
Counselors who could provide availability within a short window (24-48 hours). We understand a counselor may not always be 100% available under short notice hence we are seeking multiple counselors to be a part of this program.
Counselors willing to travel to Oakland and provide in-person counseling
Counselors with experience dealing with young adults, preferably college students
Counselors with experience dealing with mood disorders
If you are interested in knowing more about the program and more specifics about the role of a counselor in such program, please contact Mayan at oakland@uzima.live .
Our Vision
Ultimately, h2h students will foster a culture of love and support within their campus community making every student feel supported when dealing with mental health challenges.
Over time, this community will become less and less reliant on formal mental health support systems as they learn to better support one another.
Join Us.
If you’re interested in volunteering your time and energy to making h2h a reality and want to participate in the pilot program this fall, please express your interest by clicking below or email Mayan at oakland@uzima.live
Program to start Spring 2024.
“It’s the circle of life, and it moves us all, through despair and hope, through faith and love, ‘till we find our place, on the path unwinding”
— Elton John