Psychosocial impacts on college students providing mental health peer support

Objective: To examine psychosocial effects on college student peer support workers of providing mental health peer support as compared to other trained student workers. Participants: From August 2016 through May 2017, undergraduate students trained to provide mental health peer support were compared to trained student workers not providing peer support. Methods: A post-training, post-working survey design was used to assess psychosocial effects using Keyes’ Mental Health Continuum Short Form, the Deakin Coping Scale, and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. Results: At completion of training, peer supporters had lower flourishing (−9.5%, p = 0.090) than controls. After 6 weeks’ work, peer supporters exhibited lowered avoidance coping (−62%, p = 0.023), and more belonging support (+9.5%, p = 0.044). Conclusions: Peer supporters’ mental wellness does not decrease over the course of working as a mental health peer support worker; conversely, some aspects of well-being improve.