Examining the experiences of student peer support workers delivering care within post-secondary institutions.
Saved in:
| Title: | Examining the experiences of student peer support workers delivering care within post-secondary institutions. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Dimitropoulos, Gina (AUTHOR), Cullen, Emma (AUTHOR), Hews-Girard, Julia C. (NURSE), Patten, Scott B. (AUTHOR), MacPherson, Pauline (AUTHOR), Shah, Jai (AUTHOR), Friese, Kevin (AUTHOR), Wiens, Kevin (AUTHOR), Lipton-Bos, Bonny (AUTHOR), Vallianatos, Helen (AUTHOR), Szeto, Andrew C. H. (AUTHOR), Ferrari, Manuela (AUTHOR), Iyer, Srividya (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of American College Health. Oct2025, Vol. 73 Issue 8, p3164-3173. 10p. |
| Subjects: | Mental illness prevention, Support groups, Work, Health services accessibility, Supervision of employees, Safety, Mental health services, Focus groups, Qualitative research, Mental health, Occupational roles, Self-efficacy, Research funding, Affinity groups, Universities & colleges, Interviewing, Judgment sampling, Psychological safety, Crisis intervention (Mental health services), Help-seeking behavior, Descriptive statistics, Thematic analysis, Sound recordings, Mental health counseling, Research methodology, Spirituality, Psychological stress, Volunteers, Psychology of college students, Student attitudes, Interpersonal relations, Experiential learning, Transition to adulthood, Social stigma, Medical referrals, Hope, Psychosocial factors |
| Geographic Terms: | Alberta |
| Abstract: | Objective: Despite experiencing exacerbation of mental health issues, post-secondary students may not seek help due to perceived stigma, overreliance on the self, or preference for nonprofessional supports – including peer support. This study aimed to understand peer support workers' (PSWs) perspectives regarding providing support for mental health concerns in post-secondary institutions. Methods: 41 PSWs were recruited from two post-secondary institutions. 17 semi-structured interviews and three focus groups were conducted. Themes were identified using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) diverse presentations and approaches to operationalizing peer support for mental health issues on campus exist; (2) peer support has core ingredients; (3) reasons why students access peer support extend beyond mental health crisis. Conclusions: An inclusive peer support approach to mental health is needed for post-secondary students. Considerations for implementation hinge on providing standardized, foundational training to prepare PSWs for the complex mental health issues that present across services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of American College Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Objective: Despite experiencing exacerbation of mental health issues, post-secondary students may not seek help due to perceived stigma, overreliance on the self, or preference for nonprofessional supports – including peer support. This study aimed to understand peer support workers' (PSWs) perspectives regarding providing support for mental health concerns in post-secondary institutions. Methods: 41 PSWs were recruited from two post-secondary institutions. 17 semi-structured interviews and three focus groups were conducted. Themes were identified using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) diverse presentations and approaches to operationalizing peer support for mental health issues on campus exist; (2) peer support has core ingredients; (3) reasons why students access peer support extend beyond mental health crisis. Conclusions: An inclusive peer support approach to mental health is needed for post-secondary students. Considerations for implementation hinge on providing standardized, foundational training to prepare PSWs for the complex mental health issues that present across services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 07448481 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/07448481.2024.2378291 |
