Peer Support Services

Luther College has peer support resources available to students. These groups are run by staff and students and Counseling Service supports the work they do.

Peer Counseling

If you just need someone to talk with, one of your options for receiving support is a Peer Counselor. If you’d like to meet with a Peer Counselor, you can make a request at the front desk of Counseling Services, located around the back of Larsen Hall. Peer Counseling hours for the fall semester are Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. and 1:00-3:30 p.m.

Peer Counselors are here to provide active listening and promote empathy, create meaningful spaces for connection, and create moments of social connection within the campus community. Peer Counselors are trained and supported by the Counseling Center and are not a substitute for therapy. They are here to listen, support, and provide resources on topics related to everyday aspects of the student experience. Students who are in need of clinical services or are in crisis should seek a licensed professional.

Please note that Peer Counselors are a listening service, and may not be the best resource given your specific concerns or needs. If Peer Counseling is not an appropriate resource, we may refer you to a professional therapist and/or your professional therapist may decide that Peer Counseling is not in the best interest of your treatment. In these cases, the Peer Counseling program coordinator or your therapist will connect with you about the best plan moving forward.

Active Minds

Active Minds at Luther College is a recognized student organization which is a campus chapter of a national organization. The goals of the Active Minds group are to reduce the stigma of mental health and provide education to our campus regarding issues related to mental health. Active Minds typically has weekly meetings and participates in a number of campus events.

Contact activeminds@luther.edu for more information and to sign up for email updates.

Actively Moving Forward

Actively Moving forward is a recognized student organization at Luther which is a campus chapter of a national organization. Research shows that 1/3 college students will experience a death of a family member or close friend in the last year. Actively Moving Forward provides grief support for students mourning the loss of a loved one through a balance of support groups and social activities.

Contact luther-amf@healgrief.org for more information.

NAMI Connection

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group at Luther is a peer-led support group for adult Luther students (must be 18+) living with mental illness. Gain insight from hearing the challenges and success of others. The group is led by NAMI-trained Luther facilitators who have experienced struggles of their own. This group is not a substitute for therapy or any other professional mental health care.

Contact nami@luther.edu

Green Bandana Project

The Green Bandana Project began at Luther College in Fall of 2019. Individuals who choose to display a green bandana on their backpack are indicating that they are willing to talk with their peers about mental health and provide resources. The project is a student-led effort with student volunteers from Residence Life, Active Minds, and NAMI with oversight from Counseling Service.

Learn more about the history of the program and how to get involved from watching this video about the Green Bandana Project. After watching the video, if you are interested in receiving a Green Bandana to your Student Post Office (SPO) box, complete the Luther College Green Bandana form.