LMU junior Pateel Margossian became a Peer Educator because “it was a new program on campus that focused on domestic violence and promoting healthy relationships.”
“I wanted to make these issues more aware and active at LMU,” said Margossian, president of the Peer Educator program.
The goals of the Peer Educators (PE) program are to raise awareness on issues such as sexual assault and domestic violence, and to promote healthy relationships to LMU students. This fall, the program will change its name to the Wellness Educators and shift its focus to include general mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, body-image and communication.
As a Peer Educator (PE), Margossian has presented to groups and organizations on campus about topics such as bystander intervention and consent. As the program’s president, she said she has learned how to engage with students about important topics that need to be talked about on campus.
Margossian said she plans to attend medical school after she graduates in 2016. As communication is crucial in the medical field, she said she is grateful to have gained this important skill for her future career. Margossian also anticipates taking the leadership and group management skills that she has developed to make the world a better place.
To become a Peer Educator, students like Margossian receive training in areas such as public speaking, leadership, group facilitation and healthy relationships. All potential PEs participate in group interviews and give two presentations each semester to audiences such as residence life, athletics, Greek Life and academic classes.
After the selection process, the PEs arrive on campus a week before classes start for five days of additional training. Before the start of the academic year, SPS brings in experts from the Peace-Over-Violence organization to lead the PEs in two days of training on the roots of violence and systemic forms of oppression like sexism, racism and classism. The training process culminates with a field trip to the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center.
Dr. Rebecca Rutchick, coordinator of the Peer Educators and future Wellness Educators programs, said she wants the PEs “to be knowledgeable about the services available to students on and off campus.” She added that by visiting the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, PEs learn what resources are available to LMU students that may need them.
Due to a perceived need by students to raise awareness of mental health issues among the LMU community, the program will change to the Wellness Educators, Rutchick said. She added that the Wellness Educators will be trained to increase their knowledge of how common issues such as sexual assault and depression are, as well as how to identify disordered eating patterns. She said her goal is for the Wellness Educators to be able to recognize warning signs, refer students in distress, provide support and guide students in the direction of where to get help.
Rutchick also said she feels that it is very important for the peers to be comfortable with speaking about issues that may be controversial or emotional such as domestic violence, depression and suicide. By facilitating dialogue about these issues, she said she wants the students to raise awareness of these issues on campus.
The ultimate goal for the program is to raise awareness and begin dialogue about mental health issues that may not be discussed because of stigma. When the PEs talk about services provided by SPS and off campus, Rutchick said she just wants students to know that help is available.
“It creates a community at LMU that is willing and able to help one another,” Rutchick said. She added that she loves that “LMU is great about focusing on the whole person” and believes that “this program goes well with that mission.”
Interested in becoming a Peer Educator? Applications are available at the Student Psychological Services office and the deadline is March 27.
Visit the Peer Educators website for more information about the program. To learn about the new Wellness Educator program, email Dr. Rebecca Rutchick.
By NATHALIE RUBIN