The Student Support Network (SSN) at Dartmouth is a four-session training program offered by the Counseling Center and the Student Wellness Center. The training is designed for undergraduate and graduate students to develop and hone skills to support peers in crisis or distress.

Through a combination of didactic and experiential learning opportunities, participants will acquire skills that will enable them to:

• identify warning signs of a peer who is struggling with their mental health
• understand the role of empathy when helping a person in crisis
• connect peers to on-campus and off-campus resources
• learn effective communication skills

The main goal of the SSN is to expand and enrich campus support for Dartmouth students. Graduate and undergraduate students trained in SSN are part of the network of campus resources.

If you are interested in learning more about SSN, please contact Alleah Schweitzer (Student Wellness Center) and Stefanie Jordão (Counseling Center).

What will I learn in the trainings?
The trainings will cover supportive communication skills, crisis intervention and suicide prevention skills, recognizing and responding to various mental health concerns, and ways to connect peers with appropriate resources.

What am I committing to if I sign up for the training? 
When you sign up for the training, you are committing to attend 5 two-hour training sessions. Most importantly, you will be committing to recognizing and responding to others in the Dartmouth community who may be struggling with mental health concerns. 

I will have to miss one of the training sessions. Can I still participate?  
Because the training sessions build on each other, participants must be present for all sessions. The SSN training is offered on a regular basis, so we can keep your contact information and notify you about future training opportunities. 

What happens after I complete the training and what is expected of me?  
There is no ongoing commitment after you complete the SSN training. The facilitators will be available for 1:1 support or guidance as needed. We hope that you will be able to apply the skills you develop in this training in your daily interactions with others, feel more confident identifying peers who may be struggling with mental health concerns, and intervene to help them get the level of support that they need.