Founded in 2020, Peer2Peer is a student-run organization that offers mental health resources to UNC undergraduate and graduate students.
The organization set itself apart from University services, such as Counseling and Psychological Services by providing one-on-one sessions with peer responders who are also students at UNC.
Senior Sonam Shah, a health policy management and neuroscience double major, is one of the co-founders of Peer2Peer. She said the organization aims to de-stigmatize asking for help and normalize mental health struggles experienced by college students.
Shah, who also works as a peer responder, said that students can connect through shared lived experiences.
"I think there's something to say about a perspective that a student holds and being able to understand that somebody who looks just like me, who is just like me, has experienced things just like me," she said.
To connect with a peer responder, students can fill out a survey on the organization's website. On the survey, students can choose a peer responder, give their contact information and describe what they would like to talk about.
From there, a peer responder will contact the student to set up a time to talk via phone call, Zoom or over text message. Students can choose to remain anonymous on the form.
Junior Michelle Kang, a psychology major, is an executive team member and peer responder for the organization. She said students talking to other students may be more approachable and welcome compared to speaking with counselors.
“Since there is the option of remaining anonymous for Peer2Peer, there's also that safety that they feel talking to us,” Kang said.
