NUS Peer Staff Supporter Programme
Colleagues supporting colleagues.
The NUS Peer Support System builds a caring community where colleagues look out for one another, so every employee feels safe to talk about their concerns and can access the help they need, safely and confidentially.
Who can join
Full-time NUS staff
Voluntary · no mental health background required
Confidential
Peer support conversations are always confidential
90%+
reported increased awareness, preparedness & motivation after training
2023 & 2024 cohorts
94%
applied their peer support skills in the workplace
six-month follow-up survey
72%
higher odds of better work-related wellbeing
2024 trained supporters vs non-trained
2–3
colleagues supported on average per supporter
within six months of training
What is the NUS Peer Support System?
A community of peer support and care for colleagues in need.
The NUS Peer Support System aims to help create a community of peer support and care for colleagues in need. We hope to build a community where all employees feel safe to talk about their concerns and be able to access the help they need safely and confidentially.
Peer support is built on a simple idea: the colleagues we work alongside every day are often the first people we naturally turn to. At NUS, we equip peer supporters with the skills to offer basic emotional support, not to replace professional care, but to be a caring, confidential first point of contact for a colleague in need.
Guided by six core values:
Look · Listen · Link · Advocate
A simple, action-oriented framework for offering basic emotional support.
Spot signs of distress
Recognise when a colleague may be struggling, and learn basic signs of distress and stress management techniques.
Provide emotional support
Listen actively and give basic emotional support, grounded in motivational interviewing techniques that foster empathy.
Connect to help
Connect colleagues to relevant services and resources, guided by clear escalation pathways for different situations.
Champion wellbeing
Advocate for wellbeing and psychological safety, and help create a supportive culture across the workplace.
What you’ll learn
A structured 2-day training, co-created with lived experience and mental health professionals.
Peer supporter core values
Empathy, respect, non-judgement, acceptance, self-awareness and authenticity.
The role of a PSS
The Look · Listen · Link · Advocate model for offering support.
Recognising signs of distress
Basic signs of distress and stress management techniques.
Listening & communication skills
Grounded in Motivational Interviewing to build empathy and reduce defensiveness.
Linking to resources & escalation
Internal and external resources, plus clear escalation pathways.
Self-care & boundaries
Strengthen self-care practices and safeguard your own wellbeing.
Addressing stigma
A lived-experience panel builds empathy and shifts attitudes.
Suicide support
Supporting peers in crisis or suicide-related situations and escalation pathways.
Advocating for wellbeing
Creating psychologically safe environments and advocating for workplace wellbeing.
Learning continues after training
Supplementary workshops on advanced emotional support, storytelling, compassion fatigue and facilitation.
A pathway that grows with you
Peer support is a skill that deepens over time. As you gain experience, you can progress to new roles within the PSS community.
Supporter
Foundational listening and linking skills
Advocate
Share on lived-experience panels & wellbeing initiatives
Facilitator
Co-facilitate peer support circles
Trainer
Co-train new supporters & workshops
You’re never on your own
Once you’re trained, you’re surrounded by ongoing structures of support.
Keep learning
Continual psychoeducation and advanced skills through supplementary workshops.
Share & connect
Small support groups (max 10) to share experiences and check in on wellbeing, facilitated by trained wellbeing professionals.
Confidential 1:1 support
One-on-one sessions with a clinical psychologist or counsellor when you need guidance while supporting a colleague.
A buddy from day one
Every supporter is paired with a buddy for regular check-ins, so no one feels isolated in their role.
Celebrate together
Engagement and appreciation events that build connection, community and recognition across the PSS network.
Your contribution matters
Annual appreciation sessions, care packs and PSS badges or certificates, co-hosted with senior leadership.
Supporters join for many reasons
Being a PSS is voluntary, and there’s a place for everyone.
Self-improvement
Develop valuable listening, empathy and communication skills that benefit your work and personal life.
To help others
Learn how to better support colleagues and become a better manager, caregiver or friend to your loved ones.
Lived experience
Resonate with the cause, whether you’ve faced challenges yourself or supported someone through a difficult time.
Word of mouth
Many supporters first heard about PSS from a colleague and naturally became ambassadors in their units.
90% of supporters agree the PSS community is caring and compassionate, and 84% say it provides a safe space to discuss concerns.
Join the PSS community
Recruitment is ongoing for full-time NUS staff.
Download the registration guide
A step-by-step guide that walks you through the entire registration process.
Complete the registration form
Follow the instructions in the guide to submit your interest to the programme.
Attend the 2-day PSS training
Learn the foundational skills of peer support in an interactive, practice-based programme.
Join the PSS community
Get matched with a buddy, tap on support structures and start supporting colleagues.
Ready to become a Peer Staff Supporter?
Download the instructions and register today.
Find a supporter near you
Browse the full directory of trained Peer Staff Supporters across NUS.
Browse the full PSS directory
Search and filter trained Peer Staff Supporters across NUS by name or department.
Directory updated regularly. Only full-time NUS staff who have completed PSS training are listed.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before signing up.
PSS is open to all full-time NUS staff. No prior background in mental health is required; full training is provided. Participation is voluntary, and staff are encouraged to step forward if they feel personally motivated and ready to take on the role.
No. The 2-day training is designed for colleagues from all backgrounds. You’ll learn how to recognise signs of distress, listen actively, link colleagues to resources and advocate for wellbeing. Having a background as a mental health professional is helpful but not required.
After the 2-day foundational training, you decide how involved you’d like to be. Many supporters make themselves available to colleagues informally, attend PSS Circles and workshops, and join community events. The programme is designed to fit around your work, with leaders encouraged to create protected time for PSS activities.
Yes. Peer support conversations are confidential, and supporters are trained on boundaries and escalation pathways. Peer Staff Supporters are not mental health professionals. If a colleague needs professional help, they’ll be linked to the appropriate services.
You’ll be assigned a PSS Buddy and have access to a full system of support: PSS Circles for sharing and connection, confidential 1:1 PSS Consults with a psychologist or counsellor, PSS Care workshops for continued learning, and PSS Connect events, plus an annual appreciation session recognising your contributions.
No. It’s entirely voluntary. The role requires genuine motivation, empathy and emotional readiness, which can’t be mandated. NUS focuses on creating the right conditions for staff to step forward, with leadership endorsement helping to make the role valued and visible.
Once you register, you’ll be invited to the next available 2-day training cohort. After completing the training, you’ll be inducted into the PSS community and receive details about your buddy, support structures and upcoming events.
PSS is a volunteer role. Supporters are recognised through appreciation sessions, care packs and PSS badges or certificates, co-hosted by senior leadership to signal that peer support is valued, legitimate work contributing to the university’s wellbeing strategy.
Do feel free to reach out to the NUS Health & Wellbeing team at hwb@nus.edu.sg. We’d be happy to tell you more.
Get in touch
Have questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Operating Hours
Mon – Thu: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am – 5:30pm
Closed on NUS Holidays, Sat, Sun & PH
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NUS Health & Wellbeing
Office of the President · University Hall, UHL-#02-03A, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077
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