Higher Education and Teaching Commons^™

Peer Helpers: Bridging The Gap Between The Student Community And The University’S Counseling Service, Timothy Hsi, Ada Yee Lin Chung

Research Collection Dean of Students Office

Students helping students as a concept is widely used in colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. One study observed that up to 78% of these educational institutions employed University and College students as peer helpers, educators and para-professionals in support of various programs (Klein, Sondag & Drolet, 1994). Since 2003, the Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Centre for Counseling and Guidance (CCG) have actively promoted, trained and developed undergraduates to serve alongside the counselors as Peer Helpers. This is part of the overarching strategy of the Centre to build an "Emotional Safety Net" across the entire student community …