Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study
BackgroundSexual and Gender Diverse Youth (SGDY) are at increased risk for suicide due to unique experiences including discrimination, family or friend rejection, and low positive affect. Peer mentors (PMs) may offer a unique opportunity for intervention but are underutilized...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e67814 |
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| author | Jennifer T Tran Jessica Webster James R Wolfe Jennifer Ben Nathan Lindiwe Mayinja Marin Kautz Maria A Oquendo Gregory K Brown David Mandell Danielle Mowery José A Bauermeister Lily A Brown |
| author_facet | Jennifer T Tran Jessica Webster James R Wolfe Jennifer Ben Nathan Lindiwe Mayinja Marin Kautz Maria A Oquendo Gregory K Brown David Mandell Danielle Mowery José A Bauermeister Lily A Brown |
| author_sort | Jennifer T Tran |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundSexual and Gender Diverse Youth (SGDY) are at increased risk for suicide due to unique experiences including discrimination, family or friend rejection, and low positive affect. Peer mentors (PMs) may offer a unique opportunity for intervention but are underutilized for suicide prevention among SGDY.
ObjectiveLittle is known about the training needed for PMs when working with SGDY at risk for suicide. We developed an intervention, Supporting Transitions to Adulthood and Reducing Suicide (STARS), to improve suicide prevention among SGDY and increase social support, coping, and positive effects. PMs were trained by a licensed clinical therapist and provided a manual. PMs meet virtually for 6 weeks, providing social support, strategies to diminish the impact of discrimination, connection to safe spaces, and reinforcement of intentions to use Safety Plans with mentees.
MethodsTo understand PMs’ experiences in their role, including distress, fidelity to the manual, and perceptions of feasibility and acceptability of STARS and mentees’ Safety Plan, we collected survey data from mentees and PMs as well as in-depth interviews with PMs after the completion of the intervention.
ResultsAs of September 2024, all peer mentees (N=64) have completed the study and all PMs have finished providing sessions for peer mentees. PMs (n=5) reported overall high comfort (8.52) and low distress (1.93) during sessions. All 5 PMs had high fidelity (>90%) to the PM intervention training. All 5 PMs reported high feasibility (17.50), acceptability (20), and appropriateness (20) of the STARS intervention. Mentees (n=27) reported high confidence ratings (3.54) in speaking with their PMs.
ConclusionsPeer mentorship for SGDY who are at risk for suicide was feasible and acceptable by PMs and mentees alike. PMs reported that they felt comfortable and confident during the sessions. Mentees also reported confidence in working with their PMs. Future research should explore the optimal strategies to support PMs and mentees as they engage in suicide prevention work as well as incorporate feedback from the PMs in this study to ensure optimal outcomes.
Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05018143; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05018143
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/48177 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-872b8a4180f24e8da78db512e1fca2ec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-872b8a4180f24e8da78db512e1fca2ec2025-01-29T21:01:08ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2025-01-019e6781410.2196/67814Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods StudyJennifer T Tranhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3007-2553Jessica Websterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9597-2923James R Wolfehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4295-5991Jennifer Ben Nathanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0744-0343Lindiwe Mayinjahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-2909Marin Kautzhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5278-1222Maria A Oquendohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7901-5082Gregory K Brownhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1637-0335David Mandellhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8240-820XDanielle Moweryhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3802-4457José A Bauermeisterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9276-2306Lily A Brownhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0879-0110 BackgroundSexual and Gender Diverse Youth (SGDY) are at increased risk for suicide due to unique experiences including discrimination, family or friend rejection, and low positive affect. Peer mentors (PMs) may offer a unique opportunity for intervention but are underutilized for suicide prevention among SGDY. ObjectiveLittle is known about the training needed for PMs when working with SGDY at risk for suicide. We developed an intervention, Supporting Transitions to Adulthood and Reducing Suicide (STARS), to improve suicide prevention among SGDY and increase social support, coping, and positive effects. PMs were trained by a licensed clinical therapist and provided a manual. PMs meet virtually for 6 weeks, providing social support, strategies to diminish the impact of discrimination, connection to safe spaces, and reinforcement of intentions to use Safety Plans with mentees. MethodsTo understand PMs’ experiences in their role, including distress, fidelity to the manual, and perceptions of feasibility and acceptability of STARS and mentees’ Safety Plan, we collected survey data from mentees and PMs as well as in-depth interviews with PMs after the completion of the intervention. ResultsAs of September 2024, all peer mentees (N=64) have completed the study and all PMs have finished providing sessions for peer mentees. PMs (n=5) reported overall high comfort (8.52) and low distress (1.93) during sessions. All 5 PMs had high fidelity (>90%) to the PM intervention training. All 5 PMs reported high feasibility (17.50), acceptability (20), and appropriateness (20) of the STARS intervention. Mentees (n=27) reported high confidence ratings (3.54) in speaking with their PMs. ConclusionsPeer mentorship for SGDY who are at risk for suicide was feasible and acceptable by PMs and mentees alike. PMs reported that they felt comfortable and confident during the sessions. Mentees also reported confidence in working with their PMs. Future research should explore the optimal strategies to support PMs and mentees as they engage in suicide prevention work as well as incorporate feedback from the PMs in this study to ensure optimal outcomes. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05018143; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05018143 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/48177https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e67814 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer T Tran Jessica Webster James R Wolfe Jennifer Ben Nathan Lindiwe Mayinja Marin Kautz Maria A Oquendo Gregory K Brown David Mandell Danielle Mowery José A Bauermeister Lily A Brown Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full | Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_short | Experiences of Peer Mentoring Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Who Are at Risk for Suicide: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_sort | experiences of peer mentoring sexual and gender minority emerging adults who are at risk for suicide mixed methods study |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e67814 |
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