Circle of Support

Teens Helping Teens:

Peer Helper Training on Depression and Suicide Attempts

Contents
Acknowledgments			4
A Letter to the Reader			5
A Community Adolescent Mental Health Initiative			7
Introduction			9
Training the High School Students			15
	Administering the Pretest		16
	Lesson 1: Forming a Circle of Support		17
		Inclusion/Exclusion	17
		Drawing Your Own Circle	19
	Lesson 2: When a Circle of Support Gets Tested		20
		The Importance of Self-Disclosure to Building a Circle of Support	21
		Widening the Circle of Support: Seeking Outside Help	22
	Lesson 3: Maintaining a Circle of Support in a Crisis		23
		Depression	23
		Referrals	29
		Suicide: Warning Signs and Referral Techniques	31
	Lesson 4: Wellness: Its Importance to Individuals and Schools		34
Afterword			36
Appendix A. Pretest			37
Appendix B. Post-Test			39
Appendix C. Readings			42
Appendix D. The Peer Helping Concept: An Explanation			44
Appendix E. The Case for Peers by Bonnie Benard			46
Appendix F. National Peer Helpers Association Standard and Ethics Statement			57
Appendix G. Peer Helping Resource List			64

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