Peer Mentoring for Pupil Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting student mental health is a top priority for schools, but staff can't do it alone. Peer mentoring in schools is emerging as a powerful, evidence-based strategy to create a more supportive and inclusive environment. When done right, it not only helps pupils who are struggling but also fosters a whole-school culture of wellbeing.

This guide explores the benefits of peer mentoring, why effective training is non-negotiable, and how it differs from a Wellbeing Ambassadors programme.

What is peer mentoring?

Peer mentoring is a structured approach where selected students are trained to provide support, guidance, and a listening ear to their peers. This initiative helps to build trust and promotes open communication among students by offering a peer-led space for discussing challenges. Peer mentors often serve as relatable role models, fostering resilience and encouraging positive mental health strategies within the school community. With proper training, they play a key role in creating a network of care that complements the work of pastoral staff and mental health leads.

Why is peer mentoring important for mental health?

Mental health problems are common in young people, with around 1 in 6 children and young people aged 5-16 years old experiencing a diagnosable mental health problem. It is estimated that half of all lifetime mental health problems start by the age of 14 years old. These statistics highlight the importance of early intervention and support for mental health in young people.

Peer mentors can provide practical and emotional support to pupils who are struggling with a lack of strategies for mental health. They can offer guidance on how to cope with difficult emotions and situations, signpost young people to appropriate sources of support, and act as a sounding board for ideas and concerns. As well as being beneficial for those who receive mentoring, peer mentoring can also have a positive impact on the mentors themselves; helping them to develop leadership skills, empathy, and confidence.

What are the Benefits of Peer Mentoring?

A well-structured peer mentoring programme offers significant advantages for everyone involved. It’s more than just a friendly chat; it’s a targeted intervention that can transform a student’s experience of school.

For Mentees:

• Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem: Having a relatable older student to talk to can make pupils feel valued and understood.
• Enhanced Sense of Belonging: Mentoring helps mentees feel more connected to the school community, reducing feelings of isolation.
• Better Engagement and Attendance: Pupils who feel supported are more likely to attend school and engage positively in their learning.
• Development of Coping Skills: Mentees learn practical strategies for managing stress, navigating friendships, and dealing with challenges.

For Mentors:

• Development of Key Life Skills: Mentors gain invaluable experience in leadership, communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
• Increased Confidence and Responsibility: Taking on the role of a mentor builds their own self-assurance and sense of purpose.
• Reinforced Learning: By explaining concepts and strategies to others, mentors deepen their own understanding.

Why Training Peer Mentors is Crucial

Simply pairing an older student with a younger one is not enough. Proper training is essential to ensure the programme is safe, effective, and sustainable. Untrained mentors can unintentionally cause harm or become overwhelmed.

Effective training for peer mentors must cover three critical areas:

1. Listening Skills for Mentors

True support starts with listening. Mentors need to learn how to do more than just hear words; they need to understand what is being said, and what isn't. Key listening skills for mentors include:

• Active Listening: Paying full attention, showing you are engaged, and reflecting back what has been said to confirm understanding.
• Asking Open Questions: Using questions that encourage the mentee to share more, rather than simple 'yes' or 'no' answers.
• Showing Empathy: Trying to understand the mentee’s feelings without judgment.
• Holding Silences: Giving the mentee space and time to think and formulate their thoughts without rushing to fill the quiet.

2. Setting Clear Boundaries

Boundaries protect both the mentor and the mentee. Mentors are not counsellors, social workers, or fixers. Training must make it clear that their role is to be a supportive guide, not to solve complex problems.

Key boundaries include:

• Confidentiality: Understanding what can be kept confidential and, critically, what cannot.
• Role Limits: Knowing they are not there to give advice but to help the mentee explore their own solutions.
• Time and Place: Sticking to agreed-upon times and designated safe spaces within the school for meetings.
• Emotional Limits: Recognising when a conversation is becoming too overwhelming and knowing how to seek support for themselves.

3. Safeguarding in Schools

This is the most important aspect of any peer mentoring programme. Safeguarding in schools is everyone’s responsibility, and peer mentors must be completely clear on the procedures.

Training should cover:

• Recognising Concerns: Identifying signs that a mentee may be at risk of harm.
• Reporting Procedures: Knowing exactly who the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is and how to report a concern immediately and appropriately.
• Understanding Confidentiality Limits: A core principle is that they cannot keep secrets that relate to someone's safety. This must be explained to mentees from the outset.
• Their Own Wellbeing: Knowing who they can talk to for support and debriefing after a difficult session.

Introducing Wellbeing Ambassadors

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors programme empowers students to take an active role in supporting their peers, fostering a culture of compassion and resilience within the school community. These trained student leaders serve as approachable, empathetic figures who provide guidance and a listening ear to their fellow students. By participating in the program, ambassadors develop essential skills such as active listening, empathy, and boundary setting, ensuring they can offer effective and safe peer support.

Peer Mentoring vs. Wellbeing Ambassadors: What’s the Difference?

While both roles are valuable, they serve different functions within a school's wellbeing strategy. Understanding the distinction helps you build a more effective, layered approach.

Peer Mentoring

Peer mentoring is a targeted intervention. It focuses on a one-to-one relationship where a trained mentor provides dedicated support to a specific mentee who may be struggling with transition, anxiety, or engagement. Think of it as a safety net for individual pupils who need extra help.

Wellbeing Ambassadors

Wellbeing Ambassadors, on the other hand, offer a universal, preventative approach. These students are visible leaders who champion positive mental health across the entire school. They run campaigns, promote kindness, and work to create a culture where everyone feels they belong. They are less about formal, scheduled sessions and more about improving the overall school climate.

A school might use Wellbeing Ambassadors to promote a culture of openness, while a peer mentoring programme provides direct support to pupils identified as needing it. The two can work powerfully together.

Why We Developed a Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme Instead of Peer Mentoring

While peer mentoring can be an effective approach, we recognised that a more holistic and proactive model was needed to truly embed positive mental health and wellbeing across schools we work with. This led us to develop our Wellbeing Ambassadors programme.

Here’s why we chose this path:

• Proactive vs. Reactive: Traditional peer mentoring often provides reactive, one-to-one support for students who are already struggling. We wanted a programme that proactively promotes a positive school culture through prevention, education, and peer-led initiatives for everyone.
• Logistical Challenges: Establishing effective peer-to-peer mentoring can be logistically challenging in busy secondary school or FE college environments. Matching students and coordinating timetables for regular meetings can be incredibly difficult to manage.
• Ethical Considerations: The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme was developed to ensure student safety and ethical support in peer-led mental health initiatives. It recognises that while peer support fosters connection, not all mental health concerns are suitable for peer-to-peer intervention, especially in cases of serious issues or crises.
• Whole-School Impact: The Wellbeing Ambassadors program empowers students to become leaders who foster connection and belonging across the entire school community. Instead of focusing only on individual support, they run school-wide campaigns, workshops, and activities that address topics like stigma, resilience, and positive relationships.
• Developing Key Life Skills: By equipping ambassadors with training in evidence-based frameworks like SEARCH, we give them the tools to model healthy behaviours and advocate for wellbeing. This approach not only benefits the entire school but also helps the ambassadors develop vital life skills such as communication, empathy, and leadership.
• Aligning with Ofsted Recommendations: Our approach supports schools in meeting Ofsted guidelines by enhancing wellbeing and personal development strategies through evidence-based frameworks and initiatives, ensuring a positive impact on both student and staff welfare.

Ultimately, this broader approach helps create a whole-school culture of wellbeing and mental health that emphasises inclusivity, resilience and sustainable support for all.

Peer Mentoring Training as Part of Wellbeing Ambassadors

The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme is a comprehensive peer support initiative that goes beyond traditional peer mentoring. We train and empower young people with a unique blend of mentoring and coaching skills, enabling them to support their peers' mental health and wellbeing effectively. A key feature of our programme is that the young people themselves decide how they will implement their new skills within their school or setting.

How Can Young People Use Their New Skills?

This student-led approach allows for incredible flexibility. Your Wellbeing Ambassadors might choose to focus on:

•  One-to-one peer mentoring: Forming supportive relationships to help individuals navigate challenges.
•  School strategy and leadership: Working on whole-school initiatives, raising awareness, and contributing to the overall wellbeing strategy.

This ensures the programme is tailored to the specific needs of your school community, driven by the young people who know it best.

What Will Wellbeing Ambassadors Learn?

Our training equips participants with a rich toolkit of practical skills. They will learn:

•  Effective coaching and active listening techniques.
•  How to manage stress and support low-level mental health concerns.
•  The importance of boundaries and when to signpost to other support services.

After training, these ambassadors become confident leaders, ready to identify challenges and create meaningful strategies to address them.

Comprehensive Teacher Training and Resources

To ensure your programme is a success, we provide a full 'train-the-trainer' package for your staff. This is supported by an extensive online toolkit, containing all the resources you need to deliver engaging, student-centred training sessions and guide your ambassadors in their new roles.

Creating a Positive School-Wide Impact

By embedding coaching skills and a student-led ethos, the programme fosters empathy, resilience, and proactive problem-solving. This creates a deeply supportive environment that not only benefits individual students but also strengthens your school’s entire mental health framework.

Run Peer Mentoring for Mental Health in Your School

Peer mentoring in schools offers a dynamic way to enhance your pastoral support and build a culture of positive wellbeing. By investing in high-quality training that prioritises listening skills, boundaries, and safeguarding, you empower students to make a real, positive difference in their peers' lives.

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme is a complete train-the-trainer toolkit that equips your staff with the confidence and resources to run a sustainable, evidence-based peer support initiative. It provides everything you need to develop student leaders who can improve wellbeing, build belonging, and help your school meet Ofsted's expectations for personal development.

Ready to learn more? Download our Wellbeing Ambassadors Cheat Sheet for a quick overview, or join our Introduction to Wellbeing Ambassadors webinar to discover how this programme can transform your school!

Discover how the Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme can benefit your school.

If you are interested in learning more about the impact of a Wellbeing Ambassadors programme then down load our Wellbeing Ambassadors Impact Report