Building Bridges

A Case Study of Peer Support in Enhancing Mental Health for Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Abstract

• The challenge: Addressing the rising mental health needs of university students is an urgent priority for institutions of higher education. Recognizing the scarcity of professional mental health services on campus, this project sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer support model in enhancing students’ mental well-being.

• Potential consequences: With only three mental health professionals serving approximately 4,000 students, the peer educators provided crucial ancillary support to the Wellness Clinic’s services.

• Description: The Peer Support Network (PSN) project was implemented as a proactive initiative grounded in peer support theory to foster a supportive campus culture through open conversations about mental health and coping strategies. Peer educators reviewed and signed informed consent documents and completed training in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade Refer (QPR).

• Reflection: During its pilot phase, six trained peer educators engaged with 200 students (almost 5% of the student body) over one semester through classroom presentations, workshops, and information tables. Additionally, through the peer support model we created, one peer educator effectively utilized their training to provide critical support to a peer experiencing suicidal ideation, highlighting the model's potential for addressing mental health crises in real-time.