(PS3-96) Examining the Training Needs of Teen Peer Helpers in a Mental Health Helpline

Although public reliance on peer-delivered mental health helplines (e.g., hotlines, warmlines, digital platforms) has soared in recent years, very little is known about training efforts in this service sector. Mental health helplines can facilitate care linkage and often provide resources for youth with unmet mental health need, but virtually no studies have examined how teen peer helpers are trained to support in-real life (IRL) help-seeking. The current study is a community-partnered needs assessment that will examine teen helpers’ perceptions of their training preparation and needs to promote IRL help-seeking among teen mental health helpline users. Focus groups are currently being conducted with teen peer helpers working in a mental health helpline. Thematic analyses of teen peer helpers’ responses will be conducted to identify teen helpers’ views about their role in promoting IRL help-seeking, the extent to which their current training prepared them to do this, and the feasibility of receiving additional training using evidence-based strategies to support IRL help-seeking. Preliminary results indicate that peer helpers partly view their role as supporting users to seek help IRL but would like additional training on how to do this particularly in situations involving user risk behaviors. Implications will be discussed, including directions for future research to support training and adherence of evidence-based strategies among teen helpers.