Peer-Delivered ACT Intervention Improves Student Mental Health Outcomes

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Grégoire, S., Beaulieu, F., Lachance, L., Bouffard, T., Vezeau, C., & Perreault, M. (2024). An online peer support program to improve mental health among university students: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of American College Health, 72(7), 2001–2013. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2099224

Introduction
Mental health concerns are on the rise among university students, yet access to professional care remains limited. Grégoire and colleagues (2024) designed and tested a peer-led intervention to bridge this gap. Grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the study explores whether trained student peers could deliver meaningful mental health support online.

Methods
This multisite randomized controlled trial involved 107 undergraduate students from three Canadian universities. Participants were randomly assigned to either a five-week synchronous online peer support intervention or a wait-list control group. Graduate students with personal experience managing anxiety were trained in ACT and supervised by mental health professionals. The intervention included five 90-minute sessions supported by manuals and structured around ACT’s psychological flexibility model.

Results
Compared to controls, intervention participants showed significantly higher psychological flexibility and well-being, and reduced inflexibility, stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These improvements were confirmed in both intention-to-treat and completer analyses. Notably, 73% of intervention participants reported feeling less anxious, compared to just 27% in the control group. However, there were no significant changes in academic satisfaction or engagement.

Discussion
The study demonstrates that online peer support, when structured around a validated psychological model, can effectively reduce mental distress. While ACT was delivered by non-professionals, training, supervision, and adherence to protocols ensured fidelity. The lack of academic impact may reflect the intervention’s focus on psychological goals, or limitations in measurement sensitivity.

Implications for Mentoring Programs
This study offers a promising model for scaling mental health support through trained peer mentors. Programs should emphasize structured, evidence-based frameworks like ACT, clear role definitions, and professional oversight. The model’s low cost and accessibility make it especially suited to overburdened college counseling systems. Further research should examine the reciprocal benefits for peer supporters and strategies to support program sustainability.

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