The Student Wellbeing Service hosted an event to celebrate and appreciate the achievements and hard work of the 18 LSE Peer Supporters during the 2015/ 2016 academic year.
The Peer Support Scheme is in its fourth year, with peer supporters attached to nine LSE Halls of residences, as well as supporting students on campus. Peer Supporters worked through the year to support large numbers of LSE students, including many living at home or in private accommodation.
Paul Kelly (Pro-Director) and Robin Mansell (Provost) presented certificates and commended the Scheme, praising the Peer Supporters’ commitments and hard work. Robin looked back to her own experience as an undergraduate student in Canada, and recalled the difficulties that students had then in a very different climate. She knew how challenging university can be for newly arrived undergraduates, and wished there had been Peer Supporters available to listen at that time.
Ayesha Al Fekaiki (LSESU Community Welfare Officer) praised the hard work and contribution of the Peer Supporters. ‘I really appreciate the high profile you have taken in running student wellbeing events on campus. You’ve worked tirelessly to improve awareness of mental health issues and foster a more supportive environment for students’. She and other sabbaticals had been grateful to be able to join in with their initiatives throughout the year, and had learned so much from this.
One of the peer supporters, Gabriel Costelloe, spoke of how much he had gained and learnt from peer supporting, as well as the supervision sessions (held every two weeks with a counsellor from the LSE Counselling Service). He also talked about what a wonderful group of friends he had made amongst the peer supporters and especially praised the other two peer supporters he was with at Roseberry Hall.
Adam Sandelson, Head of Student Wellbeing, wished to thank Monika Smolar for her tireless work on behalf of the LSE Student Counselling Service in running, organising and promoting the LSE Peer Support Scheme. This has now become an invaluable part of student life at LSE. Well done to this cohort of Peer Supporters!