Raffles PHP

Who we are

Peer Helpers are Year 5 students trained in basic counselling skills by the counsellors at the Raffles Guidance Centre under the Peer Helpers Programme. Besides basic counselling skills, Peer Helpers are also educated in common mental illnesses. 

Peer helping is a conscious act of supporting an individual through their problems via active listening.

Why you may prefer talking to a Peer Helper

• The matter at hand is sensitive, and you prefer not to share it with friends. Helpers have a commitment to listen actively with the necessary attention and time required – qualities a friend may not always have.

• You may be more comfortable speaking with someone of your age. Peer helpers also may have the advantages of coming from the same classes, subject combinations, or CCAs as you!

• You may be hesitant to approach the counsellors. That being said, don’t worry about whether your problem is serious enough if you wish to speak to a counsellor instead – they will be more than happy to hear you out and your own preferences do come first!

How you can request for peer help

You can click here, which will direct you to the page to request for peer help! Alternatively, feel free to approach any peer helper you may know.

What to expect in a Peer Helping session

Anyone can speak to a Peer Helper. You can expect a safe space to share your problems with the Peer Helper (all issues will be kept confidential except in a life-threatening situation) who will listen not with the intention to give advice, but to understand.

Peer helpers are trained to help you deal with any issues you may have to the best of our abilities, with the advantages of coming from the same classes, subject combinations, or CCAs as you. The added experience and relation this gives to peer helpers allows them to connect with you better than someone outside your situation. As such, you can definitely expect deeper, more insightful conversations and advice better tailored to your problems. You can rest assured that you will be pointed in the right direction and are in safe hands. Peer helping sessions are constructed to be comfortable, protected and casual to keep your best interests at heart. 

Peer Helpers Programme (Enrichment Programme)

Offered by the counselling team at Raffles Guidance Centre, the Peer Helpers Programme (PHP) aims to train up peer helpers to be able to listen, refer and provide general peer support to their schoolmates. PHP seeks to guide students to be more self-aware and reflective thinkers and train students to be able to better serve their school community. Through the programme, they will also develop a better understanding of the needs of students around them and understand more about working in the helping profession.

During the Peer Helpers Programme, students will get a chance to:

• Increase their self-awareness and ability to reflect

• Better understand their peers

• Improve their ability to listen

• Develop better relationship skills

• Get a chance to learn, experience and practice basic counselling techniques (e.g. active listening, summarizing, paraphrasing, reflecting back feelings, expressing empathy, and non-verbal attending skills such as posture and eye-contact), including when and how to encourage a referral to an appropriate professional, and self-care.

• Find out more about common mental health issues in youths such as mental wellness, depression, anxiety, and stress.

The program objectives are achieved through the following activities:

• Attending the training workshops (min. 80% attendance)

• Planning and running a Mental Health Awareness week in Term 3 for the RI student population.

• Work on a project singly / in groups (video/pamphlet, presentation/workshop, research project etc.) to be presented during the Mental Health Awareness week.

• Help to man My Rest Space for the RI Community (minimum of 10 hours)

• Submit a 1000 word reflection and a 10 minute peer helping transcript

• Participate in the Raffles Science Symposium: Mental Health Science Strand in January the following year

• Assist RGC (Raffles Guidance Centre) in some of their events

• Attend learning journeys to relevant organisations involved in peer helping and mental health in Singapore (e.g. Singapore Association of Mental Health, Institute of Mental Health, Samaritans of Singapore, Chat Hub, SMU Peer Helpers etc.)

Rough Outline of Programme 

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