Mentorship Resources

List of Resources for Mentors and Mentees

Updated October 23, 2018

Best practices

Be responsive and flexible. Please respond to all communication (even if it is a short email or text), especially requests for availability, as soon as possible. Be understanding if your partner is in a different time zone.
Confidentiality: Everything that is discussed is confidential, unless it is explicitly agreed otherwise.
Active listening: Try to ask questions instead of just giving answers, at least in the first instance. Listen without interrupting. Some tips from the MPOWIR program are shown below:

Resources to provide to your mentee:

Time Management: Managing time effectively is tricky, but is incredibly important in achieving goals and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Below are a few resources to help build time awareness and manage time more effectively (courtesy of York University)

To Do List.
Blank Weekly Schedule Mon. Start
Time Tracking Tool
15 Time Management Tips (Courtesy of Entrepreneur.com) https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/299336
Work- Life Balance Tips: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/work-life-balance

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247563

Mental Health: Mental health issues do not discriminate based on gender, income, or ethnicity. Mental health issues are complex, and people differ widely in their conditions and responses. It is important that these struggles are met with encouragement and support. Below is a list of possible resources that are available to those dealing with mental health issues:

If near a university or medical school - affiliated program, encourage them to be familiar with the resources the campus offers. Many universities provide counseling services, hotlines, and a variety of other resources to their students, faculty, and the surrounding community.
For general information on mental health and to locate treatment services in your area, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Health Treatment Locator on its website that can be searched by location. You can also go to the website of your state or county government and search for the health services department.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) - This Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources.
Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1
IMALIVE (https://www.imalive.org/) - It is an online crisis network that helps people in crisis through instant messaging run entirely through trained volunteer help.
Crisis Text Line (https://www.crisistextline.org/) - Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support in the US with trained volunteer counselors.
Some federal agencies offer resources for identifying practitioners and assistance in finding low cost health services. These include:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): HRSA works to improve access to health care. The website has information on finding affordable healthcare, including health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS has information on the website about benefits and eligibility for these programs and how to enroll.
The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus website also has lists of directories and organizations that can help in identifying a health practitioner.
Practitioner lists in health care plans can provide mental health professionals that participate with your plan.
Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help: This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers resources to help answer questions about insurance coverage for mental health care.