Augustana College’s counseling department is launching a new resource that helps students who are struggling with their mental health to connect with peers who have recovered from mental health struggles. These peer recovery supporters can share their stories as to inspire students who don’t think recovery is possible for themselves and help struggling students.

Junior Morin Windle, a peer recovery supporter, said that this program creates a different environment from therapy with the counseling department and is less formal. She said that the more casual environment will help participants feel comfortable.

“It’s a very trusting position, because you’re disclosing to who you’re working with. And ideally, they’re also disclosing with you … So it’s building a relationship with trust and then connection,” Windle said.

First-Year Gwen Lester, another peer recovery supporter, said that their training follows an Illinois human resources training program that enforces client confidentiality. The peer recovery supporters are mandatory reporters to the counseling department, but otherwise cannot share information with others.

“It’s up to us to figure out what we’re comfortable with discussing, but when it comes to the peers that we’re working with, nothing that they tell me will ever leave my mouth to anyone besides my boss,” Lester said.

Bill Iavarone, director of student counseling services, started this service to meet a longtime goal of creating a form of peer recovery intervention at Augustana. Iavarone understands that counseling is not for everyone, but doesn’t want anyone who’s struggling to fall through the cracks. He emphasizes that social support is essential to well-being, despite it being a difficult thing to find.

“I really appreciate the students and how they build a community, and I wanted to find a way to leverage that in a therapeutic manner. When you look at who people interact with first [for support] … a lot of times their first interactions are going to be with their peers” Iavarone said.

This service’s success will depend on that community. Anyone can refer a student to receive a peer recovery supporter, including Greek life members, professors, teammates and floormates. 

Iavarone hopes to expand the service to have specific peer supporters for other groups, such as particular majors or TRIO. Eventually, he also hopes to have Augustana train people who work at other jobs and businesses in peer support and help the larger community, not just Augustana. To refer someone, email [email protected]. In the email, please give the student’s name, what you are noticing that indicates the student would benefit from peer support, and anything else you think would be helpful to know when pairing the student with a peer recovery supporter.