Wellness Ambassador Program
Wellness Ambassadors (WA) are student volunteers who work with the Office of Student Mental Health and Wellness to raise awareness and advocate for the importance of mental health and well-being in our community. They are trained to act as liaisons to the office and are knowledgeable about the services available and how to access them.
Wellness Ambassadors collaborate and contribute ideas and suggestions for program development and service delivery. They are dedicated to enhancing awareness of their classmates' mental health and wellness needs and to promoting programming participation. For example, a WA may speak alongside SMHW leadership at program orientations, or help develop campus wellness events. A WA may also be the first point of contact for peers, providing informal support and, when needed, connection to services.
Contact our Wellness Ambassadors by emailing: smhw@nymc.edu.
Wellness Ambassador Stories
Office of Student Mental Health and Wellness Kickstarts the Wellness Ambassador Program
The Student-led Program Provides Additional Mental Health and Wellness Support
How Can I Become a Wellness Ambassador?
E-mail us at: smhw@nymc.edu
We offer training sessions and recruiting each year.
Wellness Ambassador Program Curriculum
Session I: Introduction to the Wellness Ambassador Program, Interpersonal Communication and Peer Support
- Define and describe Wellness Ambassador role
- Outline scope of services offered by Office of Student Mental Health and Wellness
- Outline Wellness programming
- Review of current/future wellness presentations, events and classes
- Discuss role of Wellness Ambassador in promotion of events and development of new programming
- Educate on interpersonal communication and peer support skills
- Empathy vs. sympathy
- Active listening skills
- Verbal and non-verbal communicators
- Initiating and concluding interactions
- Delineate circumstances and methods for contacting Student Mental Health and Wellness staff
- Specify protocol to notify of safety concerns
Training session includes ice breaker exercise and role plays.
Feedback survey distributed following session.
Session II: Overview of Mental Health Issues, Emotion Regulation, and Stress Management
- Provide overview of mental health issues
- Depression, Anxiety, AMI (All Mental Illness)
- Prevalence of mental health issues in young adult population
- Educate on signs of emotional and academic distress
- Recognizing warning signs
- Expressing concern to fellow student
- Instruct on bridging to professional care
- Student Mental Health and Wellness referral process
- Procedures and methods for contacting Student Mental Health and Wellness staff (review)
- Define and discuss emotion regulation and stress management strategies
- The stress response and relaxation response
- Relaxation techniques, including breathing exercises, grounding exercises, progressive muscle relaxation.
Training session includes ice breaker exercise and role plays.
Feedback survey distributed following session.
Session III: De-escalation Techniques, and Consolidating Peer Support Strategies
- Summarize concept of self-care
- Benefits of self-care for healthcare professionals
- Educate on de-escalation techniques
- De-escalation best practices, including focus on feelings, self-awareness, allowing space and silence
- Review and consolidate interpersonal peer support skills
- Group exercise: game reviewing previously taught content
- Discuss case examples
- Procedures and methods for contacting Student Mental Health and Wellness staff (review)
Training session includes ice breaker exercise and role plays.
Feedback survey distributed following session.
Three 2-hour training sessions conducted in-person. Content shared on PowerPoint presentation during session.
Training materials provided in paper Training Manual packet and available in Wellness Ambassador virtual library:
- Training outline
- Office of Student Mental Health and Wellness overview
- Teladoc and Health Advocate information
- Interactive Screening Program information
- Wellness Classes overview
- Empathy and Active Listening
- Signs of Psychological and Academic Distress
- Mental Health Stigma • 9 Tips of Anxiety Management
- Breathing and Relaxation Exercises
- How to take care of yourself during this stressful time
- CPI De-escalation tips
