AUSTIN, Texas — College can be one of the most overwhelming experiences in a young adult’s life. UT-Austin junior, Caroline Thomas, is doing her part to make sure there're spaces on campus to talk about it. 

“It’s just a space where students can talk to other students that are experiencing the same things,” Thomas said. “We just hang out, sometimes we bring food for each other, we play cards and sometimes we talk about really serious conversations. It’s a great mix.”

Thomas is one of 10 students involved in the development of the pilot program, the Longhorn SHARE Project. The trained support specialists lead free weekly groups on a wide range of topics, from loneliness to identity and body image. 

“There’s conversations you want to have, but maybe you don’t want to have with your best friend of two years or your college roommate,” Thomas said. “You want that space that’s distinct and separate.” 

According to the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), nearly 60% of students here experienced moderate to serious psychological distress, such as anxiety and loneliness, in the past year. Project coordinator Adrian Lancaster believes this non-clinical peer support program can help with those issues. 

“This is a really a great way to say 'you’re not alone' and give students the tools to support themselves and each other,” Lancaster said. 

When the next training class is completed, the program will add 26 additional students for the official launch this upcoming fall. The overall goal is to continue expansion on campus and possibly catch on across the University of Texas system and beyond. 

“There’s a desire for that in a lot of the students I’ve talked to,” Lancaster said. “With a little encouragement, they can create whatever they want, for whatever they need.”

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story had an incorrect spelling of Caroline Thomas' name. (Corrected 04/23)