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Peace of Mind Foundation

Find a Safe Place to Talk

Find Support and Guidance

Get Help

Support

Offering anonymous peer-to-peer listening services to promote mental well-being. Join us in community events and fundraisers for mental health awareness.

Listening

Our team provides confidential peer to peer support sessions to help you navigate through challenging

times. You're not alone on this

journey to healing.

Community

Engage with us in various community events and fundraisers dedicated to destigmatizing mental health. Together, we can make a difference.

Mission

As an official non-profit organization, our mission is to foster vulnerability and support mental well-being in the communities we serve. Join us today.

About Us

Our Mission

Welcome to Peace of Mind Foundation, a student-led mental health support group at UT Austin. We are dedicated to providing peer-to-peer mental health listening services to offer support and guidance to those in need.

Our website serves as a platform for contact resources, a hotline number, mental health resources, advice, an organization description, an application form, and a donation collection function. Join us in our mission to promote mental well-being and provide a safe space for those seeking help.

We are currently running drop-in student peer-to-peer listening sessions on campus. For location details, please see the graphic above.

Important Links

If you wish to join the organization, or would like to become a trained Peer-to-Peer listener, please fill out the interest form below:

JOIN US

Link to our Instagram:

Meet Our Team

Peer-to-Peer Listeners

Our team of trained peer-to-peer listeners are incredibly passionate students from University of Texas at Austin.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Founder

Clark Edson

Major - Biology
Year - Senior
Hometown - San Diego, CA
Why they became a peer listener-

I became a peer listener because I am passionate about helping others through challenges with their mental health as I faced and continue to face these challenges. I think having strength to share how you are feeling can not only impact you but others as well.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Kai Robinson

Major - Mathematics
Year - Senior
Hometown - Dallas, TX
Why they became a peer listener-

I became a peer listener to give fellow classmates an accessible place to talk confidently and casually with someone who is also a college student. Everyone deserves to have a safe place to express their feelings.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Andrew Debnam

Major - Chemical Engineering

Year - Senior
Hometown - Houston, TX
Why they became a peer listener-

I became a peer listener because I am passionate about creating a community built on vulnerability at UT and I want to be a person that other students can feel comfortable talking with.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Landry Miller

Major - Biology
Grade - Junior
Hometown - San Antonio, TX

Why they became a peer listener-

I got involved with the Peace of Mind Foundation at UT because I wanted to be there for people dealing with mental health struggles. College can get heavy at times, and I’ve seen how much it helps to have someone who actually listens and understands. I just want to help make it easier for people to talk about what they’re going through.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Norah Jurkovic

Major - Psychology
Grade - Senior
Hometown - San Antonio, TX

Why they became a peer listener-

I became a peer listener because I know what it’s like to need someone who just gets it. I wanted to give those who struggled with getting help a safe space to talk without judgment. We are all navigating this chaotic world together and everyone deserves to be heard. Sometimes the smallest act of listening can make the biggest difference in someone’s life. ❤️

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Derek Kouch

Major - Psychology

Grade - Sophomore

Hometown - Richardson, TX

Why they became a peer listener-

I became a peer listener because I wanted to improve my interpersonal skills as someone looking into becoming a clinical psychologist. Working towards that goal and making an honest effort to help those struggling mentally felt like a great way to dedicate my free time.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Akshay Kelkar

Major: Neuroscience

Year: Senior

Hometown: Flower Mound, TX
Why they became a peer listener-
I want to help provide a space where people feel safe to express how they feel without judgement.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Eesha Gowda

Major: B.S. Human Biology

Year: Senior

Hometown: Carterville, Illinois
Why they became a peer listener-
I became a peer listener because I know how much it means to feel truly heard without judgement or advice being forced on you. I'm passionate about mental health because I believe that growth begins in small, brave conversations, and I want to help create spaces where people feel safe, understood, and never alone.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Avishag (Shugie) Shvil

Major: Psychology

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Westchester, NY
Why they became a peer listener-
I became a peer listener because I've seen how powerful it can be when someone feels genuinely heard and understood. I'm passionate about mental health because I believe everyone deserves a safe space to talk openly without judgement, especially during moments that feel overwhelming or isolating.

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Adi Dass

Major: Public Health

Year: Senior

Hometown: Cypress, Texas
Why they became a peer listener-
I became a peer listener because being in a school as prestigious as UT can come with a lot of pressure and students need someone to just listen to them with complete care. It also allows me to empathize with the student community on campus!

Peer-to-Peer Listener

Alexis Alarcon

Major: B.S. Psychology

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Why they became a peer listener-
I’m passionate about mental health because everyone is going through something, and sharing our lived experiences helps foster connections and makes us feel less alone.

Advisor (LCSW)

Melanie Challberg

Melanie is a licensed counselor and social worker (LCSW) who works at Hyde Park High School and she generously donates her time to support our counselors and train students to become Peer-to-Peer counselors.

Outreach Chair

Sofia Bernitt

Major: Advertising

Year: Senior

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Sofia is a student at Boston University who generously helps us with logistics, outreach, and advertising for our University of Texas at Austin location.

Psalms 34:18

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit