Peer Support
Care for the Whole Person
At Saint Joseph's University, education is more than academics. It’s cura personalis — care for the whole person. That’s why from peer mentorship to mental health advocacy, Hawks support each other through every step of the student journey.
Hawks Helping Hawks
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College life: It’s not always an easy adjustment. As part of the First Year Experience, SOAR helps smooth your path by pairing you with a peer mentor — a fellow student who can offer real-world advice and steer you to the best resources. Whether you’re navigating a roommate issue, having academic problems or just want help adapting, your SOAR mentor will guide you so you can focus on making the most of the road ahead.
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Join with students supporting each other on the lifelong journey of recovery. The Flock meets weekly in a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere to discuss the issues impacting their lives. You’ll also help spread awareness of substance use disorder through on-campus workshops, outreach events and awareness campaigns.
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Help advocate for a campus community that supports and empowers students to make healthy lifestyle choices. From the Love Your Body Fair to Alcohol Awareness Week to bystander intervention training and more, Wellness Educators organize events and workshops that focus on the intersection of alcohol and drug issues as they relate to all areas of wellness.
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As part of this national student-led organization, you’ll encourage other Hawks to learn about, talk about, and seek help for mental health issues — just as they would for physical ailments — without shame. You might organize a panel discussion, host a movie screening, plan stress-relief activities or invite a speaker to campus. Active Minds SJU works because it’s about students helping students.
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Love is the most important thing in our lives — but we’re taught very little about it. When you team up with this national nonprofit, you’ll learn the 10 signs of a healthy relationship and the 10 signs of an unhealthy one. Through workshops and peer-to-peer discussions, you’ll help other students learn to identify and avoid relationship abuse.
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After undergoing REPP’s intensive training, you’ll counsel survivors of rape, sexual assault, physical and/or emotional violence. You might staff the 24-hour phone helpline, meet with survivors during drop-in counseling hours, accompany someone to a health examination, or provide resources and referrals to support decision-making. You’ll also provide important assistance to the friends and family of survivors.
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Expand your skills and step up your game as a peer counselor. Through HAWC, all of SJU’s wellness-based peer education groups come together to offer collaborative programming, event and training opportunities for students active in the following: Wellness Educators, The Flock, Active Minds SJU, AED Pre-Med, One Love SJU, R.E.P.P. and Mental Health Speak Out.
Meet Your Peer Educators
As members of the Wellness Educator team, these students work on the front lines to support other Hawks in making positive, life-enhancing decisions.
Hear why some of them got involved:
“I joined the Wellness Educators because of my passion to educate others and continue learning myself.” - Elizabeth Kennedy ’21, education major & English minor
"I joined the Wellness Educators to not only raise awareness of what drugs and alcohol can do to students on campus but also what it can lead to after we graduate. If students recognize this they can better help their friends who need them on those issues and in turn lead a healthier lifestyle." - Michael Szewczak ’21, international relations major
"I want to help my peers in any possible way and I felt this club would be a great place to help make SJU the best it can possibly be." - Kelsey McCartney ’21, psychology major