A new space on campus will help students connect with trained peers to socialize, de-stress, and share their struggles and successes.
Dozens of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members attended the grand opening of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Pio-to-Pio Peer Support Center on Wednesday, March 15th.
Located in Andrews 204, the center鈥檚 goal is to provide support and encouragement to students who may be struggling with personal success, mental health/fitness, and academic goals. Students who are Certified Peer Educators will staff the center from 6:00鈥9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the center will be open but unstaffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.颅鈥6:00 p.m. The CPEs do not act as counselors but are trained to recognize when a student needs to see a mental health professional and will connect the student to that service.
The center was made possible by funding through the Sisters Health Foundation and the Appalachian Children Coalition. Current CPEs, members of the student group Marietta Mindset, and the College鈥檚 Center for Health and Wellness staff have worked to plan the space.
Gary Cates, Senior Vice Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said Marietta鈥檚 center is unlike other higher education services, adding that it will become a model for other schools.
鈥淧roviding total wrap-around services has become really important in education,鈥 Cates said.
Lilly Posti 鈥25 is a CPE and said the center will be very important to student success and overall health.
鈥淭his is a big part of my life 鈥 something that I鈥檝e struggled with for most of my life,鈥 Posti said. 鈥淪tudents can鈥檛 function If their brains aren鈥檛 in the right mindset. They can鈥檛 learn and grow if their brains aren鈥檛 in the right mindset. They need someone who can ask, 鈥楬ey, are you OK?鈥 It starts with checking up on a person. It starts with you and me. It starts right here.鈥