BRIDGING THE GAP: ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AMONG STUDENT VETERANS THROUGH PEER SUPPORT AND CAMPUS INTERVENTIONS

Student veterans in higher education face significant mental health challenges, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, which can impact their academic success and well-being. Despite the available resources, there are still gaps in campus mental health care. This thesis explores student veterans’ mental healthcare needs, the accessibility of campus mental health resources, the barriers and facilitators to implementing peer-supported mental health programs, and veterans’ perception of peer-support. I will highlight gaps in accessibility, awareness, and culturally competent support, providing research-based recommendations to improve mental health services for student veterans in higher education. To address these gaps, this thesis introduces a framework for implementing a peer-supported Mental Health Liaison Programs (MHLP) on higher education campuses offering a structured model for culturally competent peer support. This framework outlines how graduate students in psychology, social work, and related mental health fields can be integrated into campus mental health systems to provide culturally competent, peer-based support under licensed supervision. By establishing this framework, this thesis aims to equip higher education institutions with an evidence based and structured approach for improving student veterans’ access to mental healthcare and academic success.