Peer counseling can reach students while expanding capacity: Opinion

Peer counseling can help students who are struggling find additional support and expand institutional counseling capacity, writes Maria Carrasco, but it must be developed strategically to be effective. Carrasco says that, in a recent survey, almost half of all students have indicated that they are more likely to seek peer counseling due to pandemic-related stresses. Many students said it was important to connect with a peer counselor who shared the same demographics as their own. Carrasco also discusses the challenges peer counselors can face, and emphasizes the importance of sufficient training and having proper emergency protocols in place. Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)