Haley Bonnell didn’t set out to conduct doctoral research on the potential of transforming mental health care with peer support.
She came to Memorial University intending to become a clinician and help people, until a random elective course changed her program, her student experience and her career trajectory.
“It was kind of how the dominoes fell,” said Ms. Bonnell. “I feel like there are minor shifts in your path and all of a sudden the end goal completely pivots.”
Just one of the results of those shifts was an increase from four to 81 Memorial students who reached out for peer support, thanks to Ms. Bonnell’s efforts.
Shaped by curiosity
Ms. Bonnell arrived at Memorial in 2018 to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.
She eventually completed a double major in psychology and sociology, along with a diploma in police studies, after taking Police Studies 1000 as a fun elective with her partner.
She says the experience was “eye-opening” and one of many moments that opened unexpected doors by following her curiosity.
“When you want to change something so badly, should you try to go inside the system and change from there?”
Looking back, Ms. Bonnell wishes she opened more doors during her undergraduate experience.
“I knew I wanted to go to university, but I don’t know if I knew what university was,” she said. “I went to my classes and I went home. That was already so much; why would I do anything else? But it’s not just classes that make the difference. I wish I was more involved.”
As she continued into a master of science degree in experimental psychology, her goal of becoming a clinician gradually shifted.
“I started thinking that my passion for mental health was more on the systems level than doing one-on-one clinical work,” said Ms. Bonnell. “When you want to change something so badly, should you try to go inside the system and change from there?”
An unexpected volunteer opportunity helped answer the question.
Curiosity into action
For a course assignment, Ms. Bonnell chose to complete volunteer hours, rather than write another paper.
After her first opportunity fell through, she connected with MUN Minds as a peer supporter.
At first, students weren’t coming through the door.
Rather than watching the clock tick by, Ms. Bonnell and another volunteer began talking about what could change.
They brought their ideas to the society’s executive and were encouraged to apply for leadership positions. Ms. Bonnell eventually became chair.
Under her leadership, MUN Minds expanded outreach and fundraising, introduced activity-based peer support groups and connected with the Student Wellness and Counselling Centre.
Within a year, the number of students accessing support grew from four to 81 through both drop-in and group meetings.
From experience to research
A seminar course prompted Ms. Bonnell to explore the literature on peer support.
She found that peer support crossed disciplines and communities, but lacked a clear, consistent evidence base.
“This feels like a puzzle that I need to solve.”
“The whole ethos of peer support is that it’s community-based, it’s valuable, it’s flexible. But it makes for a messy foundation in the knowledge of how it works, if it works, and what the components look like. I knew from then, I was interested.”
That curiosity formed the foundation of her PhD in Experimental Psychology Program research.
She is examining peer support in workplaces and traditional health-care systems, including how peer supporters work alongside clinicians, how lived experience is valued and whether peer support can maintain its distinct role within systems built around clinical hierarchies.
Supported with a national Mental Health Research Canada and Mitacs grant, Ms. Bonnell is in the early stage of the project.
“I’ve been asked multiple times, are you tired yet? Do you still want to do this? And yes, because this feels like a puzzle that I need to solve,” she said.
Showing up
Ms. Bonnell doesn’t know exactly where the research will lead.
She hopes to stay involved with peer support through applied health, government or academia.
But one lesson from her university experience is already clear: students do not have to know exactly where they are going to start moving forward.
Whether it’s through volunteering, joining a society or trying something unfamiliar, connections outside the classroom can shape the future in unexpected ways.
Her own path is proof.
“I don’t know that I would have ever known what peer support was if it hadn’t been for needing volunteer hours for a course,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been forging my own path, which is exciting and daunting at once. But it’s also been natural. It grew from my own curiosity and look where that’s been able to take me.”
