Examining the Experiences of Student Peer Support Workers Delivering Care within Post-Secondary Institutions. - Chaire-réseau de recherche sur la jeunesse du Québec

Notice bibliographique

Dimitropoulos, G., Cullen, E., Hews-Girard, J. C., Patten, S. B., MacPherson, P., Shah, J. L., Friese, K., Wiens, K., Lipton-Bos, B., Vallianatos, H., Szeto, A. C. H., Ferrari, M., et Iyer, S. N. (2024). Examining the Experiences of Student Peer Support Workers Delivering Care within Post-Secondary Institutions. Journal of American College Health.

Résumé

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.