The UIII Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS) continues the CMHS Psychoeducation Sessions workshops for the UIII Academic Community to establish a supportive environment. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a CMHS workshop entitled “Workshop on Peer Counselor Training” with Psychologist Dini Rahma Bintari, PhD, was held at the University Press on the 1st floor of the Jusuf Kalla Library.

The session aimed to transform students from mere classmates into a vital support network. The workshop focused on equipping participants with the “psychological first aid” kit necessary for modern campus life: basic counseling skills, effective communication, and deep empathy.

Dr. Dini, said that the core objective of the training was to enable students to provide initial emotional support to their peers. By promoting mental health awareness among students, UIII aims to create an environment where academic stress is met with collective support rather than isolation.

In the session, participants were introduced to peer support strategies to help fellow students navigate the complexities of university life, ensuring no one has to face mental health hurdles alone.

“This training is essentially about teaching students how to be ‘good friends’ in the truest sense,” Dr. Dini explained. “We taught them how to listen actively and how to help their peers find their own solutions to problems. A positive environment is crucial because a person’s mental well-being is often a reflection of their surroundings.”

Dr. Dini acknowledged that while counseling training usually spans two to three days, this 2.5-hour intensive served as a vital “starter pack.”

“It’s a beginning. I encouraged the students to apply what they learned here to their daily lives immediately. Skills like active listening only improve through practice. For those who want to go deeper, they can eventually pursue certified training, but the real work starts in their everyday interactions on campus.”