@article{ref1,
title="Examining the experiences of student peer support workers delivering care within post-secondary institutions",
journal="Journal of American college health",
year="2024",
author="Dimitropoulos, Gina and Cullen, Emma and Hews-Girard, Julia C. and Patten, Scott B. and MacPherson, Pauline and Shah, Jai and Friese, Kevin and Wiens, Kevin and Lipton-Bos, Bonny and Vallianatos, Helen and Szeto, Andrew C. H. and Ferrari, Manuela and Iyer, Srividya",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0744-8481",
doi="10.1080/07448481.2024.2378291",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2378291"
}