Students as Leaders in Supporting Campus Wellbeing: Peer-to-Peer Health Promotion in Higher Education.

ISSUE ADDRESSED This study aimed to analyse the relationship between peer-delivered health promotion programs and student wellbeing, and to expand the limited body of research examining peer-to-peer mental health promotion as experienced by student leaders. METHODS The study was cross-sectional and focused on the experience of participants of a Sydney-based University Mental Health Day event, including student leaders, student participants, university staff and industry partners. It adopted a mixed-method approach to data collection, including a quantitative and a qualitative phase. RESULTS Results from the quantitative phase demonstrate the benefits of peer-delivered health promotion programs to students who receive the event. Results from the qualitative phase of the study provide a deeper insight into the delivery of the event, from both a student leader perspective, and also from the perspective of other stakeholders, who worked closely with student leaders. Two main themes emerged from the qualitative material and are explored in detail: enabling leadership and creating a sense of purpose. CONCLUSION The study concludes that, while there is mounting evidence of the benefits of student-led mental health programs for both leaders and their peers, more research needs to be carried out to better understand how to optimize these experiences and unlock their full potential with reference to student mental health. SO WHAT?: With the ongoing pressure on university student services to support student wellbeing not being met with appropriate resourcing, peer-to-peer programs, like the Mental Health and Wellbeing Student Ambassador Program, have a real opportunity to make strides in supporting and promoting student mental health.