What is the Community Helpers Program?
Open to NLPS staff and students from grades 7-12 , the Community Helpers program provides practical skills that you can use in your day-to-day life to help the student community. The goal is to build on your natural helping ability by providing you with the skills and knowledge necessary to support others’ mental health and well-being. The Program:
- bridges "formal" and "informal" support for young people,
- focuses on prevention and early identification for young people who may be at risk,
- provides extensive training in resources, linkages, and support,
- provides a model for community capacity building related to the issue of youth mental health promotion,
- reduces stigma by increasing community awareness,
- expands knowledge on mental health issues, and
- improves interventions for those who may be at risk of suicide.
How is the program being used in NLPS?
NLPS is fortunate to have received a grant from Alberta Health Services to help fund the implementation of this program in our schools. Our Community Helpers program coordinator works with Student Advocacy Counsellors at our middle and high schools to train students and empower them to help their peers.
Students are asked to identify natural helpers through a survey. The students who are identified are then invited to participate in the training. Once trained, those students are able to help their peers and connect them to supports in their school and community that can assist them further.