Colleges Turn to Students’ Peers for Mental-Health Support

In a dimly lit room strung with green Christmas lights, a student sits before a telephone, awaiting calls from struggling peers.

On the wall in front of her is a bulletin board with instructions on how to call backup, and on a couch a few feet behind her sits another student, ready to make that call if needed. An inspirational poster above the couch bears the reminder, “Never Give Up.”

This is the call center for the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program, a decades-old program at the University at Albany that offers a hotline, peer-to-peer coaching, and wellness workshops. Read more.