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Program Structure

Module 1

What is Mental Health Peer Coaching?

  • Why we need it in our schools
  • What peer counseling is and is not (definition of peer counseling)
  • How teens/young people help one another
  • The qualities you need to have to be an excellent peer counselor
  • Some ethical and legal considerations you need to know

Breakout Discussion Joggers:

  1. Why did you join Project David, and what do you hope to gain as a peer coach?
  2. What do you see is the benefit of having peer counselors at your school?
  3. When you have a problem, who do you usually go to for help?

Module 2

Understanding Your Peers and Their Mental Health Challenges

  • The most common mental health problems that the youth face today
  • How young people usually cope with these challenges
  • How to tell when your peer is in crisis
  • How to respond to crisis using the DEFUSE Model

Breakout Discussion Joggers:

  1. What are some other issues that you and your peers experience
    that you are reluctant to talk to adults about? Why is it hard to talk
    about these things?
  2. How do you usually respond to a crisis?

Module 3

How to Talk So Your Peer Will Listen and Listen So Your Peer Will Talk

  • Listening differently
  • The art of asking questions (introduction to motivational interviewing)
  • How to attend to big emotions (introduction to validation)

Breakout Activity:

  • Role playing scenarios to practice listening and inquiring skills

Module 4

Diving Deeper: Peer-Led Assessment for Mental Health Disorders

  • Assessing for depression and anxiety
  • Assessing for suicidality/suicidal ideation
  • Assessing for trauma
  • Assessing for substance abuse
  • Assessing for abuse (domestic, sexual, emotional, psychological)

Breakout Activity:

  • Mock assessment drills (in pairs)

Module 5

Helping Your Peer Problem Solve

  • Pinpointing the issue
  • Creating SMART goals
  • Understanding the stages of change
  • Inspiring motivation (decreasing procrastination and distractions)
  • Sustaining progress

Breakout Activity:

  • Practicing creating SMART goals

Module 6

Taking Care of Yourself While You Take Care of Others

  • The Pitfalls of Peer Coaching (what to watch out for) -ethical dilemmas
  • The reality of compassion fatigue and how to prevent it.
  • Self-care strategies to keep you grounded: physical, emotional, spiritual and mental
  • Setting healthy boundaries

Breakout Conversation Joggers:

  1. What other self-care strategies have you found to be effective for you?
  2. Which boundaries do you foresee might be difficult for you?

Breakout Activity:

  • Role play scenarios on making healthy boundaries

Module 7

Helping Your Peer Navigate Relationships and Manage Drama

  • Why we need relationships and what a healthy relationship looks like
  • How to create and maintain healthy relationships
  • Navigating family issues (how to talk to parents/primary caregivers)
  • Navigating romantic relationships (finding the right match to last a lifetime)
  • Effective conflict management/resolution

Breakout Conversation Joggers:

  1. What are the qualities of a good friend?
  2. What are your non-negotiables when dating someone?

Breakout Activity:

  • Role-playing scenarios on coaching a peer with a relationship issue

Module 8

Helping Your Peer Discover Who They Are

  • Assessing for assets and deficits
  • Choice Theory and creating a quality world
  • How to be a better version of yourself in every way
  • Learning to be assertive

Breakout Activity:

  • Practice creating your quality world and what/who you want in it; practicing being assertive

Module 9

When to Ask for Outside Help

  • Recognizing the limits of your role as a peer coach
  • Knowing when to refer your peer to someone
  • Familiarizing yourself with outside resources and creating a network of qualified professionals
  • Continuing to provide support for your peer

Breakout Activity:

  • (triadic) Compiling a list of “support resources”: clinics, hospitals, psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, guidance counselors, etc.

Module 10

Mock Coaching Session

Practicum

Following the completion of the 8-week course, participants will engage in a 1-month practicum where they apply learned concepts in real-world coaching scenarios. During this period, participants will be required to conduct coaching sessions with peers or community members facing mental health challenges. They will be tasked with documenting their coaching sessions through recordings and reflecting on their experiences. Mentors will provide guidance and feedback throughout the practicum period.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the 8-week course and practicum, participants will receive certification as Mental Health and Well-being Junior Coaches under Project DAVID. This certification will equip them with the skills and knowledge to effectively support mental health initiatives within their schools and communities.

Project DAVID not only aims to address the growing mental health needs among youth but also empowers them to become agents of change in promoting mental well-being and resilience within their spheres of influence.

Enroll now!

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