What does confidentiality mean?
Everything you talk about to a Peer Supporter is kept between you and them. All the Peer Supporters have signed a document to this effect. They regularly reflect with the Scheme's coordinator, and may discuss issues that have arisen but will keep your identity confidential.
However in certain situations for the safety of the person seeking help, the wider community and the Peer Supporter, they may need to disclose certain information and will inform you of this whenever necessary.
In such circumstances, breaking confidentiality does not mean that what you have shared becomes public knowledge. A Peer Supporter will only tell the relevant person/s with regard to maintaining safety e.g.. a Warden or LSE counsellors.
Peer Supporters will never share anything you have told them with their friends.
Will talking to a Peer Supporter really help me
Talking to a Peer Supporter is not guaranteed to help, however 'a problem shared is a problem halved'.
Peer support schemes have been successful here and at other universities as they allow an informal, confidential and student-led method of support. Hopefully, Peer Supporters enable a student to feel more at ease than in a formal setting. They can possibly relate to a fellow student in a more successful manner than a professional who is no longer a student.
Who supports the Peer Supporters?
The Peer Supporters attend a reflective meeting with an LSE Student Counsellor every two weeks. In this way, the Peer Supporters can learn more and talk about what difficulties, pressures or issues they themselves might have.
What if the Peer Supporter doesn’t understand and can’t help me?
If you find that talking to the Peer Supporter has not provided the level of support and help you desired, there are other services designed to help you at LSE and in the wider community. The Peer Supporter is trained and will be happy to signpost you to a suitable method of support. The LSE Student Counselling Service provides more formal help. It is also important to register with a GP in London once you are resident here. A list of other external resources is available here.
Can I choose which Peer Supporter I contact?
Yes. Find out more about the Peer Supporters by reading their biographies. This list also contains their individual contact details. There might be some Peer Supporters based in your hall of residence, however any LSE students can contact any Peer Supporter. Just drop them an email with your contact details so they can get back to you.
Is my problem too small and irrelevant?
No. No problem is too small. Peer Supporters are there to help you with any worry, concern or issue. A Peer Supporter also understands that what may seem small to some may be a big concern for others.
Can I use Peer Support to get help for my friend?
We are trained to support the person in front of us. We can listen to your worries regarding someone else and if you feel they are in danger or are a danger to others its important to encourage that friend to contact the Student Counselling Service or their GP.