Life after Leave: Peer Support during Time Away from Education
The purpose of this survey is to help CRC design a new service, free to eligible participants. The service will assist individuals whose education is cut short by the need to care for their mental health. CRC's service will support individuals identifying and achieving their short- and long-term employment goals. For some, this may mean discovering how best to continue or finish their education; for others, it could be finding an alternate pathway to a rewarding career - and for still others, it might just mean finding a "bridge" job while they figure things out. CRC is committed to providing services aligned with the peer support model: the individual's interests, goals and autonomy are paramount to success.
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Thank you in advance for your participation in this survey. It is anonymous, does not collect any personally identifying information, and you have the option to respond "prefer not to answer" to any question aside from a few baseline questions. Your submission indicates your informed consent to the questions that are asked.
Your age in years (as of today)
*
Please Select
Under 18
18-22
23-26
27-30
31-35
35-45
45-60
Over 60
What is the 5-digit zip code of your current residence? If you are currently enrolled and attending school, use your school's zip code.
*
If different, what is the 5-digit zip code where you normally reside/reside when not in school?
What is the most recent level of education you completed?
*
Vocational School/High School Diploma/GED
Associates Degree
Undergraduate Degree (B.A., B.S., etc)
Master's Degree
Doctoral Degree (PhD, MD, EdD., etc)
Other Graduate/Profesional
None of these
What is the most recent level of education you attended for one (1) or more days? Whether it was associate's or bachelor's, please use the "Undergraduate" options. This may overlap with your previous answer.
*
High School, Vocational School or GED pathway
Undergraduate - Completed less that 50% of degree requirements
Undergraduate - Completed 50% or more of degree requirements
Undergraduate - Completed degree requirements
Graduate/Profesional
None of these
What was the last calendar year (i.e., 2025) during which you were enrolled in any level of education?
*
Have you ever taken an official leave of absence from, or otherwise discontinued, your education?
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No, and I have not considered it.
No, but I have considered it.
Yes, and I have not yet returned.
Yes, and I am not planning to return.
Yes, and I returned.
None of these.
Prefer not to answer
How informed are you (or, if no longer enrolled, were you) about your school's medical Leave of Absence policy?
*
Very informed
Somewhat informed
Not very informed
Not informed at all
Question not applicable to me
Prefer not to answer
If you took a leave of absence or discontinued your education, what is the amount of time that you have been, or were, on leave?
Please Select
Less than 6 months
6 months-1 year
1-3 years
more than 3 years
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How helpful do you think the following were, or would have been, in deciding to step away from your education?
Talking with a peer who left and returned.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Having clear info about how leave affects finances, housing, and continuing education.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Receiving support from school advising staff specific to Leave of Absence.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
In-school counseling/therapy options
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Availability of a support system for students before, during, and after leave offered by the school.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Availability of a support system for students before, during, and after leave offered by an independent program (not the school).
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
How helpful do you think the following were, would be, or would have been, during time away from your education?
Regular check-ins from fellow students.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Regular check-ins from peers in the mental health community
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Regular check-ins from school representatives (counselors, deans, etc.)
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Help planning next steps from clinician/therapeutic team
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Help planning next steps from non-clinical or therapeutic professional
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Support group(s), either online or in person
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
How did you spend, or are you spending, your time away from school? Select all that apply.
*
Inpatient
Outpatient
Other type of therapeutic program (clinical)
Other type of "Leave of Absence" option (non-clinical, such as NOLS, Semester at Sea)
Working
Volunteering
Traveling
Prefer not to answer
None of these
If you selected "None of these" or did additional activities to those on the list, please describe.
What are the biggest reasons you haven't yet or don't plan to return to school? Select all that apply.
I am still focusing on my mental health
I'm not sure how to start
I'm not interested and want to do/am already doing something else
Want (but can't get) help planning next steps from clinician/therapeutic team
Financial reasons
Family reasons
I don't know if I can handle the workload
I don't feel supported
I am overwhelmed by planning the rest of my education
I don't know my school's policy
I am worried about how other students will react
Want help planning next steps from non-clinical or therapeutic professional
Prefer not to say
Other
Would any of the following make returning easier? Select all that apply.
Regular check-ins from peers
Regular check-ins from school counselors
Help planning a return
Online/In person groups
Talking with a peer who left and returned
Clear info about how returning affects finances, housing, and continuing education
Support from advising staff specific to Leave of Absence
Knowing there's a support system for student on leave, before, during, and after leave
None of these/I don't know
Prefer not to answer
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When thinking about taking leave or stopping your education, how helpful do you think the following would be?
Talking with a peer who left and returned.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Having clear info about how leave affects finances, housing, and continuing education.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Receiving support from advising staff specific to Leave of Absence.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
In-school counseling options
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Availability of a support system for students before, during, and after leave offered by the school.
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Availability of a support system for students before, during, and after leave offered by an independent program (not the school).
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
How helpful do you think the following were, or would be, or have been, during time away from your education?
Regular check-ins from other students
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Regular check-ins from peers in the mental health community
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Regular check-ins from school representatives (counselors, deans, etc.)
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Help planning next steps from clinician/therapeutic team
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Help planning next steps from non-clinical or therapeutic professional
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
Help planning next steps from non-clinical or therapeutic professional
Please Select
Not Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Very Helpful
Unsure
Prefer not to Answer
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About Peers and Peer Support
In the context of this survey, "peer" is used exclusively to indicate an individual who has lived experience/is living in recovery with a mental health condition - it does not indicate age, education background or level, or other ways in which "peer" might be interpreted within an academic context. Cole Resource Center makes no distinction between individuals who self-identify and those who have received a medical diagnosis. Healthcare is often inaccessible and family, culture, religion and/or personal preference can also play a significant role in where an individual turns for support for mental health needs. Peer support indicates that - regardless of other training or certification - the person providing a service is offering non-clinical support based in the their own lived experience and recovery perspective.
Are you interested in the idea of peer support for mental health recovery?
*
Yes
No
Unsure/I need more information
Prefer not to answer
Do you think talking with a peer whose education has been impacted by their mental health could be helpful to people who have considered, or decided, to take a leave or stop/pause their education?
Yes
No
I don't know
Prefer not to answer
Would it be important for this peer to be certified/credentialed in some way?
Yes
No
I don't know
Prefer not to answer
How would you describe your interest in a peer support program for students whose education plans change(d) to support mental health needs? Select all that apply.
I would use one now.
I would have used one if it existed when I needed it.
I think it could be helpful for others, but I wouldn't have used it.
I'm not sure if I would have used one.
I wouldn't have used one.
I would be interested in volunteering for one.
I would be interested in working for one.
I am not sure.
Prefer not to answer.
What timeline of peer support in the Leave of Absence process would you find or have found helpful? Select all that apply.
Before Leave of Absence - a peer program that offers support to help keep you in school
Before Leave of Absence - a peer program that offers help with planning and learning about others experiences
During Leave of Absence - a peer program that regualry meets in a group setting
During Leave of Absence - a one on one peer that works with you specifically through your Leave of Absence
After Leave of Absence - a brief period where a peer checks in and helps with the transition
After Leave of Absence - a long-term period where a peer checks in throughout your education process
Prefer not to answer
Please rank, in order of most important to least important, the qualities in a coach/advisor that would be or would have been most important to you in selecting a program to support you. Click each option to drag and drop.
We appreciate the time you have taken to complete this survey. We also deeply appreciate how factors such as cultural background, language, gender identity and other lived experiences affect mental health support and outcomes. If you would like this data collected to support our efforts in building programs that take these into account, please select "Yes" and you will be shown the demographic questions.
YES - I would like to answer demographic questions.
NO - I would like to submit the survey now.
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Demographic Information
Preferred Pronouns (leave blank if you prefer not to say)
What race or ethnicity best describes you? Check all that apply.
*
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian/ Pacific Islander
Black or African American
Hispanic
White/ Caucasian
Multiple Ethnicities
Other
Prefer not to say
What primary languages do you speak at home? (leave blank if you prefer not to say)
Do you now or have you ever served in the U.S. military or otherwise qualify for Veteran/military status?
*
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Voluntary self-identification of disability status:
*
Yes, I identify as having or have a history/record of having a disability.
No, I do not identify as having or have a history/record of having a disability.
I prefer not to answer.
What best describes your current gender identity?
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Female
Male
Transgender
Non-binary
A gender not listed here
Prefer not tosay
Which of these best describes your current sexual orientation?
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Asexual
Bisexual
Gay/Lesbian
Heterosexual/Straight
Pansexual
Queer
A sexual orientation not listed here
Prefer not to say
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Is there anything else you would like our team to consider as we develop a service to support individual needs at the intersection of education, employment and mental health?
Submit
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