If you’re struggling with your mental health, never hesitate to seek help. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) connects students with someone who truly understands–a fellow student.
Through the district’s Peer Helper program, students step up to support one another. This extracurricular initiative focuses on suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and helping students know where to turn for support.
APS currently offers the program in 21 APS middle and high schools. Trained student Peer Helpers partner with faculty sponsors to lead outreach projects, share resources, and encourage help-seeking behaviors among their classmates.
In 2025, APS Peer Helpers reached more than 40,000 fellow students and community members. They connected them with important resources, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health supports.
Students Supporting Students
Peer Helpers receive training in suicide prevention and mental health awareness. They also lead monthly outreach and service learning events for their school communities. Students lead these projects to reduce stigma and make it easier for fellow students to seek help.
At Cibola High School, Peer Helpers recently helped dedicate New Mexico’s first Josh’s Bench. The national initiative, led by Josh’s Benches for Awareness, places benches in schools and communities as safe spaces to sit, talk, and ask for help.
As part of the their service learning project, students dedicated the bench, showing how young people can actively support mental health and prevent suicide.
Peer Helpers across APS are making a life-saving impact, building supportive spaces, sharing resources, and reminding their peers that they are not alone.