Supporting the Mental Health of Peer Support Workers Following a Lethal Shooting on Campus.

Abstract

The ongoing youth mental health crisis and shortage of campus mental health clinicians have prompted investment in developing a peer support workforce in universities. The current study seeks to better understand the needs of this vulnerable, front-line workforce when they must both support their peers and care for themselves in times of crisis. The current study is an exploratory longitudinal investigation into the functioning of peer support workers at The University of Virginia before and after a shooting killed three students on campus in November of 2022. Peer support workers (N=42) and a comparison group of students (N=104) completed survey measures of mental health, connection, and other functioning, as well as open-ended reflections, in September and December 2022 (the shooting occurred November 2022). No significant changes in mental health were identified, and peer support workers' open-ended reflections did not contain any direct mention of the shooting or experiences supporting peers after the shooting. One relevant theme arose, reflecting on disruptions to the typical meeting schedule interrupting group progress. Results are interpreted as reflective of student resilience and the importance of prioritizing collective healing following violence on campus.