Listening, kindness, and awareness are the watchwords of the Student Health Representatives. We meet Antoine GUERIN, Laureline PORCEDDA, and Zoé THIBAUDEAU, second-year engineering students on the Grande Ecole Program at the Angers campus, who talk to us about their missions and actions in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis.
Students who are available to help others and listen to their classmates
Sexuality, sleep, nutrition, hearing, alcohol, drugs—these are just some of the topics covered by the Student Health Representatives during their prevention campaigns. For Laureline, it was important to help raise awareness among students about issues specifically related to drugs, alcohol, and sexuality. "Students can take risks, and I wanted to fully understand the issues involved in these situations and how this endangerment manifests itself. For me, it's important to get the message across that there can be risks involved in drinking too much alcohol at parties, for example. " Zoé also wanted to help and inform "to limit risks and try to have a real, positive impact on people's lives, " she explains.
Trained by the SUMPPS (University Service for Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion) at theUniversity of Angers, the Student Health Relays are well equipped to detect risky behavior and act as a link to the appropriate professionals. Antoine was interested in topics related to sleep, hearing, and psychological support. "There are subjects on which the three of us complement each other, and we help each other. It's very rewarding, we learn a lot!" he explains.
Presence, awareness: the missions of ERS
The mission of the Student Health Representatives (ERS) is to be available to students. In practical terms, this means two office hours every week, on Wednesday evenings and Thursday lunchtimes, both in person and remotely. At the same time, the ERS organize prevention workshops on various topics throughout the year.
We are here to provide support and a listening ear to students. Our mission is also to promote prevention in various areas. We also refer students who need it to professionals. But sometimes some students just need to talk, and we are here to listen. That is the strength of the ERS.
Staying in touch with students despite COVID-19
"The lockdown in October made it more difficult to reach students, particularly to find out if they were okay," explain the ERS. However, they did not give up. Even though organizing remote workshops was more complicated (offering more time slots with smaller groups for confidentiality reasons), Antoine, Laureline, and Zoé nevertheless maintained contact with the students thanks to remote office hours and workshops on topics such as relaxation and sleep.
In parallel with their activities, the Student Health Representatives meet every Tuesday at noon with Nicolas Francois, Student Life Officer, and Milène Bréchu from the academic department to review their activities and report any difficult situations involving students. "This allows us to communicate regularly and be vigilant in paying attention to students who are struggling and vulnerable so that we can do what is necessary." This year,the ERS have had to deal with more dropouts and isolation issues. "The idea is to stay in touch, to show that we are always there and that we are listening."
Looking ahead to 2021: continuing to organize prevention workshops
In 2021, the ERS's goal is to continue their hotline service, to maintain communication and contact with students, and to organize new prevention workshops. And there is no shortage of ideas! Cooking workshops, road safety initiatives, workshops on stress, hearing workshops with hearing tests carried out by specialists... the ERS have a busy schedule until June. Now it remains to be seen whether these events willbe able to take place in person or remotely, depending on health restrictions. "We will adapt in any case, as we have already done," say the ERS, even though they admit that "what we miss is direct contact! "
Their satisfaction?
"The contact with others. We help students move forward. When we receive thanks, it's always rewarding. We can't help all students, but if we can help a few, that's already great!" they say in unison.
