Hello IU School of Medicine students! I hope your current school year is going well!
My name is Alex Kokini and I am a current fourth-year medical student at IU School of Medicine. Alongside some awesome classmates and folks at the IUPUI Counseling and Psychological Services office (CAPS) I have set up a month-long training course teaching medical students how they can offer support to their classmates. Our goal is to be an informal ally for any student that is struggling and help direct them to appropriate care as needed. Medical school can be demanding, isolating, and above all challenging to cope with, and often it is incredibly helpful to have another person to talk to.
Train in Peer-to-Peer Support
We are currently recruiting more students to be trained in peer-to-peer support. The goal is to continue to foster a culture where students take an active role in the well-being of their classmates. The training will consist of four 90 minute sessions on Tuesday evenings during October. The training will be a combination of lecture and active practice of technique and skills. Following the training there are no formal obligations of any trained members.
Training Topics
- Active and reflective listening / empathy / mental health / knowledge of campus resources
- Alcohol and other drugs / social norms / screening for concerns
- Healthy relationships / sexual violence prevention / bystander intervention
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training
Training Schedule
All events will take place in Daly 185 from 6:30 – 8 pm
October 2: Peer Support, Mental Health & Referrals
Eric Teske, Assistant Director of Substance Abuse Prevention, Office of Health and Wellness Promotion
Dr. Yves Ambroise, Assistant Director of Outreach and Community Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
October 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs
Eric Teske, Assistant Director of Substance Abuse Prevention, Office of Health and Wellness Promotion
October 16: Sexual Violence Prevention and Bystander Intervention
Christine Kung’u, Assistant Director of Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
October 23: QPR Suicide Prevention Training
Dr. Julie Lash, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Dr. Yves Ambroise, Assistant Director of Outreach and Community Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
If you or someone you know is interested in training, please email me (akokini@iupui.edu)! Thank you all for you time, and I wish you the best in the remainder of this year and beyond!
