UNBC Hosts National Peer Supprt Conference
January 19, 2006 for immediate release
Up to 80 delegates from across Canada will be attending the fifth
annual National Peer Support Conference, which will be held at UNBC
starting next Friday, January 27.
The focus of the conference will be on models of counselling and peer support that incorporate aboriginal and First Nations perspectives on health and healing into a peer-counselling model. Sessions will cover a variety of topics: building peer support programs, happiness, coping with stress, sexual health, and the significance of the talking circle and medicine wheel. There will also be a panel discussion on the effectiveness of music, storytelling, and writing to leadership, health, and wellness.
“Since 2000, UNBC has had a successful peer support network that annually involves more than 20 students,” says Sandra MacDonald of UNBC’s First Nations Centre. “We know that students are often more comfortable talking with other students than with those in positions of authority and our aim has been to train students to be effective peer counsellors. This includes understanding western counselling practices as well as aboriginal approaches to health and well-being. It’s our particular focus that will be explored during the national conference here and the students involved with our peer support network have been among those organizing the conference.”
The conference will feature a number of presenters:
• Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine, Coyote Healing, and Coyote Wisdom
• UNBC Psychology professor Sherry Beaumont
• Lakota elder Alden Pompana
• Paul Michel, Director of UNBC’s First Nations Centre
• Social workers Cathy Denby and Greg Beattie
“Finding the Balance: The 5th Annual National Peer Support Conference” is sponsored by UNBC, the Metis Elders Society, and the Ramada Hotel.
Contact:
Sandra MacDonald, First Nations Centre, UNBC - 250.960.5772
or Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
The focus of the conference will be on models of counselling and peer support that incorporate aboriginal and First Nations perspectives on health and healing into a peer-counselling model. Sessions will cover a variety of topics: building peer support programs, happiness, coping with stress, sexual health, and the significance of the talking circle and medicine wheel. There will also be a panel discussion on the effectiveness of music, storytelling, and writing to leadership, health, and wellness.
“Since 2000, UNBC has had a successful peer support network that annually involves more than 20 students,” says Sandra MacDonald of UNBC’s First Nations Centre. “We know that students are often more comfortable talking with other students than with those in positions of authority and our aim has been to train students to be effective peer counsellors. This includes understanding western counselling practices as well as aboriginal approaches to health and well-being. It’s our particular focus that will be explored during the national conference here and the students involved with our peer support network have been among those organizing the conference.”
The conference will feature a number of presenters:
• Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine, Coyote Healing, and Coyote Wisdom
• UNBC Psychology professor Sherry Beaumont
• Lakota elder Alden Pompana
• Paul Michel, Director of UNBC’s First Nations Centre
• Social workers Cathy Denby and Greg Beattie
“Finding the Balance: The 5th Annual National Peer Support Conference” is sponsored by UNBC, the Metis Elders Society, and the Ramada Hotel.
Contact:
Sandra MacDonald, First Nations Centre, UNBC - 250.960.5772
or Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
