Peer Counselor Training: One Component of a Medical Student Health and Effectiveness Program

Abstract

This paper describes a peer counselor training program designed to train student volunteers to help their fellow students with a wide range of difficulties caused or exacerbated by medical training. The training program is described in detail, demographic characteristics of the participants are compared to those of the rest of the student body, and the activities of the peer counselors are reported. The students did not differ significantly from the rest of the student body by age, race, gender, or academic standing. Eight percent of the student body used the services of the peer counselors, and two students were directed into treatment for alcoholism. Development of similar programs at other medical schools is recommended.