Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room
Universities are increasingly recognising the importance of addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of their students. Mental health challenges experienced while at university can hinder academic achievement and exacerbate existing mental ill-health. In response to this identified need, many i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA)
2025-04-01
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| Series: | JANZSSA |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2025-1-01 |
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| author | Amanda L. Cole Fiona Navin Dawn Reid |
| author_facet | Amanda L. Cole Fiona Navin Dawn Reid |
| author_sort | Amanda L. Cole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Universities are increasingly recognising the importance of addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of their students. Mental health challenges experienced while at university can hinder academic achievement and exacerbate existing mental ill-health. In response to this identified need, many institutions have implemented mental health services, such as psychological and counselling support. However, barriers such as stigma, accessibility, and effectiveness often limit their reach and impact. Many students do not avail themselves to services, or access the supports available, due to these barriers. This study gathered initial data from 110 participants who visited Edith Cowan University’s “The Living Room” (TLR) within the first 15 weeks of its opening. This new low-barrier, peer-led mental health service is designed to support students’ social, emotional, and mental wellbeing. TLR already stands out as an early intervention sanctuary. Students can find understanding and support in times of difficulty through shared conversation with a trained peer, who is ideally positioned to help ease distress and offer connectivity to other services. The Welcome and Wellbeing Questionnaire has identified key emerging themes. These include the vital role of the TLR peer support team, as well as various academic, social, emotional, and wellbeing concerns with a broader impact on interpersonal and mental health challenges. This study highlights the emerging benefits of an early intervention primary mental health care model, identifies key recommendations for support, and further adds to knowledge of the social and emotional wellbeing of students at university.
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<p xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><span property="dct:title">Exploring university student mental health and wellbeing through a low-barrier peer-led service: Emerging insights from The Living Room</span> by <span property="cc:attributionName">Amanda L. Cole, Fiona Navin
and Dawn Reid</span> is licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" target="_blank" rel="license noopener noreferrer" style="display:inline-block;">CC BY 4.0<img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1"><img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1"></a></p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1473e9be62134cfabe9002a0406972e8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1320-2480 2207-8460 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JANZSSA |
| spelling | doaj-art-1473e9be62134cfabe9002a0406972e82025-08-20T03:53:42ZengAustralian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA)JANZSSA1320-24802207-84602025-04-0133110.30688/janzssa.2025-1-01Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living RoomAmanda L. ColeFiona NavinDawn ReidUniversities are increasingly recognising the importance of addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of their students. Mental health challenges experienced while at university can hinder academic achievement and exacerbate existing mental ill-health. In response to this identified need, many institutions have implemented mental health services, such as psychological and counselling support. However, barriers such as stigma, accessibility, and effectiveness often limit their reach and impact. Many students do not avail themselves to services, or access the supports available, due to these barriers. This study gathered initial data from 110 participants who visited Edith Cowan University’s “The Living Room” (TLR) within the first 15 weeks of its opening. This new low-barrier, peer-led mental health service is designed to support students’ social, emotional, and mental wellbeing. TLR already stands out as an early intervention sanctuary. Students can find understanding and support in times of difficulty through shared conversation with a trained peer, who is ideally positioned to help ease distress and offer connectivity to other services. The Welcome and Wellbeing Questionnaire has identified key emerging themes. These include the vital role of the TLR peer support team, as well as various academic, social, emotional, and wellbeing concerns with a broader impact on interpersonal and mental health challenges. This study highlights the emerging benefits of an early intervention primary mental health care model, identifies key recommendations for support, and further adds to knowledge of the social and emotional wellbeing of students at university. --- <p xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><span property="dct:title">Exploring university student mental health and wellbeing through a low-barrier peer-led service: Emerging insights from The Living Room</span> by <span property="cc:attributionName">Amanda L. Cole, Fiona Navin and Dawn Reid</span> is licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" target="_blank" rel="license noopener noreferrer" style="display:inline-block;">CC BY 4.0<img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1"><img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1"></a></p>https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2025-1-01 |
| spellingShingle | Amanda L. Cole Fiona Navin Dawn Reid Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room JANZSSA |
| title | Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room |
| title_full | Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room |
| title_fullStr | Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room |
| title_short | Exploring University Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Through a Low-Barrier Peer-Led Service: Emerging Insights From the Living Room |
| title_sort | exploring university student mental health and wellbeing through a low barrier peer led service emerging insights from the living room |
| url | https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2025-1-01 |
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