To support the well-being of MCM college students, promote pyschological health awareness, and build a culture of kindness in the college, the college launched a “Heart-to-Heart” Peer Counselling Scheme in collaboration with the university’s Psychological Counselling Center and Centre for Macau Studies in September 2020. Through recruitment, interview, training and assessment, 12 qualified peer counsellors were finally selected. This group of peer counsellors have successfully completed 36 hours of training provided by the psychological counselling team and the college’s resident fellow, the content includes basic counselling skills, mental health first aid knowledge, “Step-by-Step” e-helper training, teamwork and event planning skills.
After completing the training, the peer counsellors began providing service in the college, promoting psychological health messages to all MCMers during the “Mental Health Awareness Week” in October, and planned online and offline kindness challenge activities during the “Kindness Challenge Week” in November to let kindness spread from the college. To assist the Centre for Macau Studies in modifying and testing the “Step-by-Step” mental health mobile app, MCM College recruited nearly 20 service users in need in October and provided support services through peer counselors so that they can use the app effectively and enhance their mental health conditions. During the service provision period, each peer counselor contacted service users and provided support via phone or text messages every week, 15-20 minutes each time, for 8 consecutive weeks. In order to ensure the quality of service, peer counsellors participated in a one-hour supervision meeting every week to share and discuss cases with the clinical supervisor from UM Psychological Counselling Center. (the process strictly followed the principle of confidentiality)
