Co-Curricular Courses

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides participants with practical training in basic helping skills and the assessment of certain risky behaviours. It also explores a range of common psychological health and wellness issues and familiarises participants with support services both on- and off-campus. The course provides the pre-requisite training for students to pursue fieldwork in Semester II with the Peer Counselling Association towards graduation as a UWI Peer Counsellor. The teaching component of the course comprises face-to-face lectures and workshops. Participants’ learning will be assessed by online assessment, group presentation, and individual journaling.

Goals/Aims

This course aims:

• To raise awareness of psychological health and wellness among the student body as well as to reduce stigma associated with mental illness
• To promote self-awareness and self-care for individual participants, towards better psychological and emotional wellbeing
• To develop participants’ helping skills and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries in helping relationships
• To prepare participants who wish to pursue the Peer Counselling programme
• To raise the profile of student support services available on campus
• To promote interaction and peer support among students on campus

General Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

• Engage students in a discussion on attitudes towards mental health and how mental illnesses are classified and understood
• Familiarise participants with a range of common psychological problems and explore factors associated with self harm and suicidal ideation
• Raise awareness of student support services available both on and off campus
• Explore the characteristics and limitations of an effective helping relationship
• Provide participants with the opportunity to develop and practice skills basic helping skills, biopsychosocial assessment and risk assessment

Instructors