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Mental Health Safety Net: Implementing Peer Support for Students in psychological Crisis
 

Authors:
Susen Köslich-Strumann¹, Katrin Obst¹, Till Utesch¹
¹ University of Lübeck, Central Unit for Prevention and University Health Management, Lübeck, Germany

Issue
University students are increasingly affected by mental health burdens, posing a public health challenge, impacting academic success and future career prospects. Early, sustainable, low-threshold interventions are essential.
 

Description of the problem                                                                                                                                      Can peer support be integrated into university health management systems as a sustainable, low-threshold intervention? At the University of Lübeck (5,132 students), a mental health safety net was developed and implemented for students in psychological crisis. Students in crises can contact peer support students for suitable psychological support. Peer support students are psychologically trained and supervised. The awareness of the Mental Health Safety Net among students is being evaluated by the Lübeck University Students Trial (LUST), which has been monitoring the mental health of students for the past 14 years.
 

Results
In June 2023, 1,312 students participated in the LUST survey and 65% reported knowing the Mental Health Safety Net. 14 peer support students were recruited and received 9 requests in 2024. They were informed about psychological support services and referred when necessary.
 

Lessons
The intervention demonstrates how participatory, low-threshold, and sustainable mental health strategies can be implemented in university settings. Combining needs assessments with peer-based interventions is unique in German universities, showing how participatory strategies can be integrated into university health management. The Mental Health Safety Net is transferable to other universities due to its participatory, sustainable approach and flexible integration into existing structures. 
 

Main messages
Peer-based support can be successfully implemented as a sustainable, low-threshold intervention. Participatory mental health strategies are transferable across universities.