Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Trauma Informed Educators Conference! I had an amazing experience learning from many of the "disruptors" or leaders in trauma informed practices in schools. Also, I had the opportunity of presenting on one of my favorite topics, peer helping. The subject of my presentation included how to make a peer helping program a part of any school counseling program and an addition to a trauma informed program.
For a moment, I would like to make a pitch about considering the possibility of adding a peer helping program as an extension to your counseling program. In order to make my point, let's talk about the significance of starting a peer helping program, if your school lacks a program. As counselors, we are often called on to intervene in situations where students face extreme difficulities, whether it's related to academics, mental health struggles, or personal issues. Unfortunately, there are way more problems in schools than a counseling department can handle (especially if you are the only counselor). So, why consider a program?
There are three main reasons why schools, especially school counselors should consider a program.
1. There are more students than adults in schools
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, pupil/teacher ratios have decreased or stayed constant in both public and private schools since 2010. This is good news for many school districts in the nation. However, there are states that are the exception to this trend and these states are facing increasing teacher/student ratios. These states include California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Louisiana, Washington, and Michigan. In addition to teachers, caseloads for school counselors often do not meet the ASCA recommendation ration of 250 students/school counselor. In fact, across schools, the average student to school counselor ratio is 464 to 1.
2. Increasing mental health concerns post-Covid
In 2021, the CDC posted some updated statistics on students in the US. These statistics included mental illness, suicide, and self-harm. The CDC found that 6 million children are diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Suicide rates have increased nationally from the 3rd leading cause of death to the 2nd leading cause of death for young people 15-24. Also, since the pandemic, self-harm and substance use have jumped 119% for young people diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
3. Social influences may impact the pressure of perfection and lead to worsening mental health issues
Dr. BJ Casey (Cornell University) said it best. When asked, teens will quickly turn to other peers when they need to make a quick decision. This is true for purchases, image, music, clothing, or making comparisons.
With these growing concerns in our schools, school counselors are sadly outnumbered, overwhelmed, and understaffed. Implementing a peer helping program can alleviate the burden faced by counselors in identifying and addressing individual students needs. Trained peers can step in, offer help and guidance, and refer students who need additional services. In fact, in 2008, ASCA released a position statement on peer helping as an effective practice for schools and can be a positive addition to any school counseling program. Also, investing in a peer helping program can be highly effective. Peer programs are not merely based on good intentions but are research-based initiatives. These programs follow evidence-based practices, incorporating proven strategies that ensure the appropriate support is provided to students. In order to ensure the sustainability of a peer helping program, it is crucial to provide comprehensive training to the participating students. This includes equipping them with the eight basic peer helping skills, conflict resolution skills, referral skills, and trauma informed awareness. With proper training, peer helping programs create a positive culture and foster a sense of community within the school. These programs not only help struggling students, but provide personal growth opportunities for the peer helpers as well.
If you are intrigued with the idea of starting a program, I would love for you to attend the Summer Counseling Conference to learn more. I will be presenting on how to start a program that is trauma informed. The Summer Counselor Conference will be held the week of August 4th - 6th and will feature a myraid of school counselor presenters who will provide resources, ideas, and a load of great information. The great thing about this conference is that it is pre-recorded and you have one year to view the content. Also, I will be giving away a lot of resources on how to start a peer helping program. See the link for signing up below for this conference...I hope to see you there!
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