Peer Support Community

Welcome to our Peer Support Community! This is a supportive community where a group of dedicated and trained students serve as Peer Companions (PCs) to support, encourage, and provide companionship for fellow HKUST students, both in-person and through the Online Peer Support Community.

 

Through the years, PCs have organised various activities to promote mental wellness, combat stigma, foster inclusive conversations to raise awareness and encourage early help-seeking within the HKUST community. Stay tuned for our upcoming initiatives!

 

Getting Peer Support Online

The Peer Support Community is an inclusive online platform for HKUST students to connect with empathetic peers, share emotions, enhance their understanding of mental wellness, and cultivate a sense of belonging and resilience through a supportive network. Students can join this community to start a conversation with PCs through 1-on-1 chat, and have access to the Wellness Toolkit and Short Posts prepared by PCs for learning and revisiting psychological knowledge and self-care skills anytime, anywhere!

 

The Community can be accessed via web browsers or mobile apps. For convenient access, after successful registration, you can download "Mighty Networks" mobile apps, find and add the "Peer Support Community" within it. Grasp the opportunity to foster friendships and navigate your university journey together in a safe and welcoming environment!

Peer Support and Outreach

Check-in Day
(Campus Wide Event)

 

    

 Exam Support

 
Get-together

New Student Orientation

 


JUSTalk Café
(Peer Chat Session)


PC Orientation Day Camp

Peer Growth Group
(Wellness Workshops Co-led by PCs)

JUSTalk Series
(Human Library Session)

 

Be a Peer Companion

The Peer Companion Training Program (友伴同行 - 科大朋輩支援訓練計劃) welcomes all undergraduate and postgraduate students at HKUST who are passionate in learning about mental wellness, eager to connect with like-minded peers, and dedicated to offering support to their fellow students. The application period is now open until 11 October 2025 (Sat). Click HERE to apply to be a Peer Companion. Shortlisted students will be invited to attend a group interview with other applicants in late October 2025.

 

Upon successful enrollment in the program, Peer Companions will undergo extensive training to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to support their peers. In addition to face-to-face sessions, the Program leverages the same online platform "Mighty Networks" to establish an interactive training community, offering new PCs access to skill-training videos and other essential knowledge. These online resources enable PCs to access them anywhere, anytime, at their fingertips and according to their own pace.

 

 

PCs are expected to fulfil a one-year commitment from December 2025 to December 2026, demonstrating a reasonable level of involvement in the events listed above and/or other relevant peer support initiatives. Upon completion of this one-year commitment, PCs will be invited to serve as a Senior Peer Companions and continue their caring role under the Peer Companion Enhancement Program (友伴同行 - 科大朋輩支援延伸計劃).

 

 

 

 

2025

 

Application (Click HERE)

by 11 October


 


 

Interview Late October 

 


 

Announcement of Result

Early November

 


 

Orientation and Teambuilding Late December  

 


 

 

2026

 

Comprehensive Training on Peer Support                                                                                

January 


 


 

Peer Support and Outreach in Spring

February - April

 


 

Campus-wide Festival in Spring March

 


 

Exam Support Initiatives in Spring

April - May


 


 

New Student Welcoming in Fall

September


 


 

Peer Support and Outreach in Fall September - November

 


 

Campus-wide Festival in Fall October 

 


 

Exam Support Initiatives in Fall

November - December

 


 

   

 

 

Recognition for Peer Companions

A certificate of completion will be awarded to the PCs who demonstrate reasonable commitment to this role, recognizing their efforts and dedication. Additionally, as student leaders and active contributors to enhancing mental wellness in the HKUST community, active PCs are eligible to apply for additional hall points and scholarships to further enrich your life at HKUST.

We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us.

Virginia Satir

Why are counseling services private and confidential?

When students decide to meet with a counselor, they need sufficient emotional support to manage their life adversities and mental health concerns. A student may be going through stressful experiences, traumatic life events, fear of judgement and an emotional roller coaster ride of mental health symptoms. They may feel embarrassed, vulnerable or a sense of shame, and may be reluctant to share their private feelings and secrets if they do not feel safe and comfortable in the counseling environment. It is of utmost importance for a counselor to gain trust from a student and build rapport with them to ensure the effectiveness of counseling/psychotherapy. Sometimes, the discussion may involve substance abuse, sexual activity, and concerns about other behaviors that might violate the student conduct code.

Counseling/psychotherapy is considered confidential to protect students’ personal experiences and the therapeutic relationship. Nevertheless, there are exceptions that confidentiality would not be upheld, particularly if the counselor is significantly concerned about the safety of student or someone else that the student is talking about.