- Peer Health Advocates
About the PHAs
Volunteering as a PHA
-Recovery@
- Annual Events
Sexual Health Expo
Unspeakable Acts
Take Back the Night
-Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)










Peer Health Advocates
WesWell's peer health education group

Mission

WesWell, the Office of Health Education, is an integral part of Wesleyan University's Health Services. WesWell understands the impact of student health on academic performance and is committed to providing services that are designed to develop healthy behaviors and prevent health concerns that may interfere with academic and personal success.

 

Current Student Staff

Peer Health Advocate Team Leaders

The Team Leaders oversee WesWell's peer-led health education efforts, including the supervision of the volunteer Peer Health Advocates, in conjunction with the Director of Health Education. The Team Leaders for 2011-2012 are:

  • Rachel Merzel '12
  • Elaine Chan '12
  • Becca Burns '12
  • Jeanne McPhee '13

Peer Health Advocates

The volunteer members of the PHAs create and implement peer-led health education outreach efforts on a variety of health issues.  We currently have about 10 volunteers from all four classes.
 

Activities

In addition to staffing the WesWell office and responding to student requests for assistance, the Peer Health Advocates are responsible for the development of educational activities and awareness events, often in conjunction with student organizations and health observances, on a wide variety of health issues. They offer workshops on alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, sexual violence, stress relief and more.

Past activities have included workshops, tabling, leading discussions, movie and video showings, fliering campaigns, and even passing out flowers as random acts of kindness. They have also been instrumental in advocating for changes in University practices and policies which impact student health, such as the Residential Smoking Policy implemented in 2002. "PHAs were the 2010-2011 Study Sex Tour winners because of the excellent work they did surrounding sex education."
 

Collaboration & Co-sponsorships

The Peer Health Advocates actively seek out opportunities to collaborate on health education events and co-sponsor programs with other student organizations throughout the year. If your organization is planning a health-related event and is looking for ideas or resources, you are encouraged to discuss it with a Peer Health Advocate or other WesWell staff member early in your planning stages in order to see how we might be of assistance.  Funding assistance is also available through the HealthFull Words Fund. 
 

Contact the WesWell Staff  |  Make a Suggestion  |  WesWell Home
revised 09/19/2011