|
|
 |
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline peer skills training has been a highlight of my schooling career and personal development.
The program was presented to us over a 3 day camp. The camp was run by people from Kids Helpline, trained students and staff, a child psychologist and a school counsellor.
The camp helps students develop communication skills while at the same time giving insight into mental health problem and mental illness.
Students chosen to go on this training were selected by teachers. In most cases they were students who exhibited leadership skills, have an interest in student wellbeing, which students will talk to, or even have suffered a mental illness as I have myself.
Our school was joined by 3 other schools. This, I believe helped as a tester of the program. They were complete strangers. A true indication of the success of the program was the way students interacted and were calling each other friends by the end of Day 1. Email address and telephone number swapping was rife.
This program has been successful in our school. Two years after commencement almost half our school has been trained. As a result our school is a happier place and a much safer place for all.
Whilst it is true that mental illness cannot be eradicated, problems that were previously kept secret or that went undetected are now recognised and can be addressed thanks to peers helping peers. Peer skilled students also understand where their responsibility begins and ends. Through Kids Helpline Peer skill training I know pathways to care for students with issues of concern.
Since I have trained I have dealt with issues and problems that I could not have dealt with without training. I have been able to help students that in any other situation I would not have had contact with. Issues have ranged from a peer being dumped by their girl/boy friend to very serious issues of depression where self harm was a factor.
Kids Helpline Peer skills being implemented in our school has made a revolutionary change in the culture of our school.
|
|
|
