Empower students with Peer Helpers PLUS
Peer Helpers PLUS is a comprehensive peer-to-peer suicide prevention and support program that empowers students with the character traits and life skills needed to make healthy choices, resolve conflicts, and build positive peer relationships. By fostering leadership and connection, Peer Helpers PLUS helps all students thrive—both academically and personally.
The program has made a real difference in students’ lives, supporting them through challenges like bullying, homelessness, risky behaviors, and academic struggles. Peer Helpers serve as positive role models and trusted guides, helping their peers find support, build resilience, and feel a sense of belonging at school.
Peer Helpers PLUS Program
Peer Helpers PLUS takes a comprehensive, two-tiered approach to promoting the positive development of our youth, as well as reducing youth violence and suicide.
Tier 1 includes detailed prevention education for all students.
Tier 2 teaches a eclectic group of students (grades K-12) a core set of skills to help them identify, communicate with, and support their at-risk classmates.
The program covers many of the issues that affect our youth today, such as: bullying, divorce, family illness, body image, grief and coping, mental health and depression.
Peer Helpers PLUS Concept
When a young person is seeking help, validation, or guidance, they will likely reach out to their peers for support long before turning to an adult. The Peer Helpers PLUS program leverages its two components—prevention and support—to prepare and empower youth to advocate for one another, enabling them to continue making a positive impact on each other.
Peer Helpers offer their fellow students encouragement and assistance with the challenges they face in day-to-day life. They serve as tutors, mentors, mediators, and advocates for their peers. They also assist new students in transitioning between schools and communities.
PEER-TO-PEER TRAINING
Peer-to-peer training is an integral component of many youth suicide-prevention programs. It trains the students to recognize warning signs in depressed or suicidal peers, and to empower them to report those signs to an adult.
Peers are considered to be the most effective receptors of warning signs because they spend so much time together and are able to recognize when someone is acting differently. Evidence-based research shows that seven out of ten adolescents experiencing depressive or suicidal thoughts will confide in a friend or trusted peer before approaching an adult. The challenge is that rarely will the friend/trusted peer speak to their peers, and then refer their peers to an adult who can get their peer professional help, thus taking the responsibility off the adolescent.
“7 out of 10 young people would tell a friend if they’re thinking of suicide. Research shows peers have a greater impact as protective factors during adolescence than parents.”
Get PEER HELPERS PLUS in your school
The Peer Helpers PLUS program can be implemented as an extra-curricular club or an elective course. Instituting this program not only helps schools meet state mandates, but does so in an effective and efficient manner that truly touches the lives of our youth.
Interested in bringing Peer Helpers PLUS to your school? Let’s talk about how Peer Helpers in your school can make a lasting impact on the mental, social, and emotional health of students.
For more information on the Peer Helpers PLUS program, click the button below and fill out the brief form. We’ll be in touch soon.
Here’s what SCHOOLS have to say
Here’s what STUDENTS have to say
Meet Our Peer-to-Peer Team
Lindsey Encinias
Peer-to-Peer Program Manager
Lindsey thrives on thoughtful connection through writing and speaking about her personal experiences with mental health conditions. She communicates with purpose and authenticity about losing her father, who died by suicide, when she was a teenager. Inspired by her two young children, Lindsey is passionate about suicide prevention advocacy and mental health wellness conversations beginning in our schools. She believes opening the door of communication with students will change how they view mental health.
Amy Pool
Senior Thrive Education Manager
Amy is the primary liaison with the Foundation’s Thrive strategy school partners. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the education system, including classroom teacher, program coordinator, building administrator, campus principal and special education consultant. Amy has an unwavering passion for her students and is especially interested in pursuing a future educational model that puts a renewed emphasis on social and emotional learning.
