“Don’t be afraid to join mental health peer educators ... when you go through the training, you become a different person,” Berkeley High School senior Zeeshan Sharior Sheikh, one of BHS’ Mental Health Peer Educators, said. “Even if you’re the shyest kid in the classroom like me, you can be more socially active after joining the Mental Health Peer Educator (program),” Sheikh said.
The BHS Health Center’s Mental Health Peer Educator Program is one of the school’s many student internship opportunities. Aimed at recruiting upperclassmen, it allows for students to gain more insight and information into wellness and mental health, in hopes of raising awareness about the availability of mental health resources.
“That was the first ever internship I did … It’s also opened many doors to me being a mentor,” Sheikh said, “Now if I see someone with a problem, (I’ll) go up to them and talk to them about how they’re feeling, what they’re doing, and if they need any help.”
Peer educators meet with their mentors, who teach them how to navigate strong emotions in a healthy way. The program allows students to improve their public speaking skills while giving them the opportunity to closely connect with their peers.
Through class presentations and the mentor program, peer educators are constantly learning how to confront mental health problems head on and offer support to their fellow students.
“We have (lots of) resources, but people are not using them. I could basically recommend them (to use) this or that … (Being a peer educator) helps you give resources,” Sheikh said.
This year, peer educators are focusing more on their freshman class presentations and spreading awareness about the importance of building up strong mental health habits.
“The message we’re trying to (spread) is for people to not be afraid to come forward if they need help,” Salma Mahmoud, a BHS senior and peer educator, said. Mahmoud added, “Also (we want students) to know that help is readily available at the Wellness Center and that they could drop in or reach out themselves if they have any small issues or just issues in general with their mental health.” Much of the peer educator program comes from the knowledge that students are often able to connect more deeply and directly with their peers. Through their meetings, peer educators learn about the differences between spiritual, physical, and emotional wellness, as well as how to develop healthy coping skills that lead to long term improvement in their mental health.
“I’ve made good friends from the program,” Malalaniaina Sariaka Andrianjohary, another BHS senior and peer educator, said. Andrianjohary added, “The program helps students with their mental health because it gives them a way to always have access to mental health services, and that’s taught by other students, so … it’s not like they’re just talking to an adult who wouldn’t understand them.”
Andrianjohary and Mahmoud pride themselves in being peer educators and raising general awareness about this topic, while making an impact on the BHS community.
“I think the program overall (is) trying to accomplish bringing up mental health easily so that people don’t feel overwhelmed ... (we want) to be a safe space for students,” Andrianjohary said.