Welcome Class of 2021: your health is in your hands
HIGHER HEALTH welcomes first year students to the start of their tertiary education and urges them to safeguard their physical health and take care of their mental wellbeing – important stepping stones on the path to successful graduation.
The HIGHER HEALTH model begins to deliver results where students experience face-to-face, peer-to-peer education and activities. Peer educators facilitate this process through individual discussions, dialogue sessions, exhibitions and workshops. It is here that students:
Are challenged and encouraged to take responsibility for their health, wellbeing and development. Access bio-metric and high-risk assessments (particularly first-year students) and links to services.Start conversations with their friends and classmates, develop clubs, groups and forums dedicated to various issues including treatment support, GBV survivors and gender-diverse clubs.Feel able to break the silence on matters of mental health, sexuality and gender.Learn about available health and social services and begin to trust them more.
Peer-to-peer model is also linked to the 2nd curriculum, a term used by HIGHER HEALTH to refer to opportunities for learning and development that are offered to students outside of formal academic studies. It includes a range of campus activities – such as student clubs and societies – and, most importantly it includes a system for volunteers to become peer educators and mentors.