Would You Like to Have a Peer Mentor?

by upstreetpgh | Nov 12, 2021 | Peer Mentoring, Resources

Alex Feldman

Would You Like to Have a Peer Mentor?

Are you stressed out at school? Are you going through a major change at home? Are you feeling lonely or worn out from the COVID-19 pandemic and looking to connect with someone else your age? You might benefit from having a peer mentor. UpStreet Pittsburgh offers a peer mentoring program for teens and young adults aged 12-22.

Peer mentoring can lead to more success in school and college and better relationships with friends and parents. It can help you build up your self-esteem. There’s also evidence that peer mentoring can help with your mental health and emotional well-being. Finally, when you have a peer mentor, you have someone you can rely on. They’ll be there for you when you need someone to talk to.

At UpStreet, we screen and interview all of our mentors, and all of them go through several rounds of training. Having a peer mentor means having a non-judgmental space where you can share what’s going on in your life without worrying about who will find out. To protect your privacy, UpStreet will place you with someone you don’t know and who doesn’t go to your school.

We’ll pair you with a mentor who is a few years older than you. This part makes peer mentoring different from the other important relationships in your life—your friends, family, teachers, or community leaders. Your mentor will be someone you can trust and talk to, but they’ll also be close enough in age that they can relate to what you’re going through.

Your mentor can help you build your confidence, identify life goals, and navigate challenges. They can also share information and resources. All of your interactions with your mentor will happen over our special texting platform, so you can connect with your mentor from anywhere.

We’re here for you at UpStreet! If you think you might like to have a mentor, go to our mentoring form and choose “I’d like to find a mentor.” You can also send us a message here. And if you have a friend who might benefit from peer mentoring, be sure to let them know too.

Mental Health Resources for College Students

by UpStreet Interns | Oct 1, 2021 | Resources

Alex Feldman

MSW Intern

Mental Health Resources for College Students

College can be an exciting and exhilarating experience, but it can also be lonely, stressful, and overwhelming. It’s a time of new freedoms, but also of new pressures. If you are struggling with your mental health, know that you are not alone. According to one recent study, approximately 1/3 of college students are wrestling with mental illness. The good news is that there are resources out there for you.

The most common mental health issue college students face today is anxiety, but depression, relationship problems, suicidal thoughts, drug and alcohol use, and eating disorders are also common concerns. People with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often experience their first symptoms in their late teens or early twenties. You might be surprised to hear just how common experiences of stress, anxiety, and mental illness are in college. Stanford University’s Resilience Project collects stories of college students talking about how they’ve failed classes and struggled with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and much more. You can watch their videos here.

College can also be a time for you to explore your sexual orientation, gender identity, or other aspects of who you are, which can lead to difficult decisions about how to navigate relationships with friends and family. The Trevor Project has a helpful guide if you’re thinking about coming out.

If you are dealing with any of these changes and challenges, your campus health center may be a good place to start. At many colleges and universities, the campus health center offers free or discounted counseling services, and many even have a stand-alone counseling center. Ask your health center, counseling center, or student affairs office about peer support groups as well.

At UpStreet, we offer free online therapy for people from 12 to 22. You can also drop by our chat service and talk to a member of our team any time Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or on the weekend from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. We’re here for you whether you’re looking for therapy or just need a stranger to talk to for a few minutes.

Other resources in the Pittsburgh area: