Emily McColpin Becomes Peer Leader

Lincoln Trail College student Emily McColpin has been named the College’s first Peer Support Leader. In her position, she will work closely with Mental Health Specialist Holly O’Brien to build awareness of mental health issues, services, and programs to support student wellbeing and growth.

“I decided to be a peer support leader because I value that everyone goes through hard times, and sometimes we just need someone to talk to,” said McColpin. “As a student myself, I can see how it may be intimidating to talk to an adult rather than someone around my age.”

O’Brien says that as a Peer Support Leader, McColpin will connect and refer students to college resources as necessary. 

“Statistics show that at least 39% of students in college experience a mental health issue, and 1 in 5 adults have a diagnosable mental illness. Mental health is an important piece to a student’s success in college and in life.”

She says that mental health support helps foster the success of all students and having someone like McColpin will help break down barriers for students needing help and make it more convenient and accessible.

“The hope is to also decrease the stigma often associated with seeking help for mental health challenges.”

Helping students will not be the only benefit for McColpin.

“This fits right into my career choice since I am a nursing student, and I deal with a lot of different age groups this will allow me to have more experience talking with others! I chose a very empathetic field of study to be in, and this will just allow me to be able to help others like I have always wanted to do!”

She says that serving as a Peer Support Leader means a lot to her because it gives her the opportunity to be there for other students and to help them with anything that they need help with.