Mental health challenges among college students are on the rise, yet traditional support services often fail to meet students where they are. Many students face barriers such as cost, time, stigma, or lack of relevance to their lived experiences. But what if students could receive mental health support from someone who’s walked a similar path?
That’s the idea behind peer support, an emerging model that connects students with trained peers who offer strengths-based guidance and empathetic listening. This model is especially effective for students who may distrust traditional providers or who prefer a more informal, relatable form of support. Research in healthcare and community settings has demonstrated that peer support enhances well-being, increases engagement, and lowers the threshold for seeking help.
At WGU Labs, we partnered with Flourish Labs, a WGU Labs Fund investee, to explore how peer support could expand mental health options for students at Western Governors University. We piloted the organization’s Peers.net platform, which offers confidential, virtual 1:1 support with certified peer supporters aged 18–35. These sessions are not clinical therapy, but they are structured, evidence-based, and guided by professional supervision. They serve as a bridge, offering supportive, flexible, and more approachable support for many students navigating stress and isolation.
What We Learned from the Pilot
In our research, we found that peer support offers real promise as a complement to traditional counseling. Among the 132 students who used the Peers.net service, usage rates were comparable to those of traditional counseling, despite limited eligibility due to age restrictions. Students didn’t just try it once and move on: Many used it regularly, and 12% were “super-users” who booked 11 or more sessions.
The students surveyed overwhelmingly reported that the experience was beneficial. Over 85% said it helped them feel more supported, improved their academic focus, and added value to their WGU experience. Many used their sessions to discuss stress, develop study habits, and learn strategies for well-being. Just as importantly, they felt understood. They described their peer supporters as non-judgmental, relatable, and willing to share their own experiences, qualities that made support feel safe and accessible.
Why Peer Support Must Be Tailored to the Student Community
Still, students were clear: relatability matters. They wanted peer supporters who truly understood their academic context, especially as online, adult learners. Several noted a mismatch between their own life experience and the younger peer supporters available on the platform, and the lack of connection to WGU or knowledge about online learning created some friction.
This points to a key lesson: for peer support to thrive, it must be deeply embedded in the institutional ecosystem. That means recruiting and training peer supporters from within the student or alumni community. It also means making the service visible, easy to access, and clearly distinct from, but connected to, existing mental health services.
Implications for Institutions
As colleges and universities expand their mental health offerings, peer support deserves serious consideration. It can reduce stigma, increase early help-seeking, and build a stronger sense of belonging, especially when traditional services feel intimidating or inaccessible. However, institutions must design these programs intentionally.
Here’s what works:
- Recruit peer supporters who reflect the student population, including adult, online, and underrepresented learners.
- Position peer support as a supplement to clinical services, with clear handoffs to professional practitioners when needed.
- Make platforms mobile-friendly, user-centered, and accessible outside of standard hours.
- Embed peer support into the broader well-being ecosystem, with proactive communication and cultural alignment.
Conclusion
Peer support isn’t a silver bullet, but when implemented well, it can be a powerful lever for student wellbeing and success. For students who are hesitant to pursue counseling or feel disconnected from their institutions, peer support offers something unique: a relatable, human touchpoint that can build trust, foster a sense of belonging, and help them stay focused on their goals. Institutions that center empathy, flexibility, and relevance in their mental health strategies will be better positioned to meet the complex needs of today’s learners.
