Types of Peer Support

The Longhorn SHARE Project offers a wide range of peer-led support groups, individual peer support opportunities, and other activities facilitated by trained SHARE Support Specialists and program staff.

Unless otherwise indicated, opportunities are open to all UT Austin undergraduate and graduate students.

Weekly SHARE Communities

SHARE Communities are informal, non-clinical peer support groups where students with similar experiences can connect authentically, learn from each other, exchange support, and practice wellness strategies. Community topics are all chosen by the peer co-facilitators based on their own interests, identities, or mental health concerns.

SHARE Circles

SHARE Circles are a storytelling and processing tool rooted in indigenous and First Nations practices. Circles are great for building community, empathy, and understanding among groups, and the turn-taking structure ensures that everyone’s voices are heard.

If your class or organization could benefit from dedicated time to connect on a human level, hear each other’s needs and perspectives, or process a difficult experience, contact us! SHARE Support Specialists can facilitate Circles for any size group around a theme or topic relevant to your needs.

These circles can be facilitated in person or virtually depending on your group's needs and facilitator availability. Please note that most circles need two weeks' notice to schedule.

Individual SHARE Chats

Meet with a SHARE Support Specialist in a variety of convenient locations around campus to get free private support!

While SHARE Support Specialists are not counselors or therapists, they can still help you by using their peer support skills and sharing relevant tools and resources. You can expect SHARE peers to:

Listen nonjudgmentally to help you process your thoughts and feelings.
Help you combat self-stigma around mental health and help-seeking.
Provide validation as someone who has experienced similar situations.
Share information about campus resources.
Assist with decision-making by asking open-ended questions and sharing unbiased observations.
Make suggestions or share strategies they have found useful in similar situations, if asked.

IMPORTANT

Please be advised that SHARE Chats are not counseling sessions, nor are SHARE Support Specialists qualified to diagnose or treat mental health conditions. SHARE Support Specialists can help students explore other resources and options, but students specifically seeking clinical counseling services should visit the Counseling and Mental Health Center website for more information.

If you need immediate mental health support, please contact the CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-2255.

How to Meet with a SHARE Support Specialist

Drop-In Periods

During high-stress periods of the semester - like midterms and before finals - SHARE Support Specialists will offer SHARE Chats on a drop-in basis. Dates and locations will be updated on this page, announced via our email newsletter and other campus listservs and shared on @healthyhorns social media accounts.

Request Forms

For the time being, individual SHARE Chats with a SHARE Support Specialist can be requested via the online form below

Who Will I Chat With?

You have the option of requesting a specific SHARE Support Specialist on the request form if you wish. Please be aware that our Specialists are also students so their individual availability may vary, but we will do our best to accommodate requests. Learn more about each of them and their interest areas by reading their bios on our Who We Are page.

Other Services

Standby Peer Support

SHARE Support Specialists can be requested to attend campus events focused on challenging or sensitive topics. While not therapists, SHARE peers can be available before, during, or after the events to connect students to mental health resources if needed.

Workshop, Training, and Presentation Requests

View all workshops currently available.