Background
Peer support specialists offering mental health and substance use support services have been shown to reduce stigma, hospitalizations, and health care costs. However, as peer support specialists are part of a fast-growing mental health and substance use workforce in innovative integrated care settings, they encounter various challenges in their new roles and tasks.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to explore peer support specialists’ experiences regarding employment challenges in integrated mental health and substance use workplace settings in New Hampshire, USA.
Methods
Using experience-based co-design, nonpeer academic researchers co-designed this study with peer support specialists. We conducted a series of focus groups with peer support specialists (N=15) from 3 different integrated mental health and substance use agencies. Audio recordings were transcribed. Data analysis included content analysis and thematic analysis.
Results
We identified 90 final codes relating to 6 themes: (1) work role and boundaries, (2) hiring, (3) work-life balance, (4) work support, (5) challenges, and (6) identified training needs.
Conclusions
The shared values of experience-based co-design and peer support specialists eased facilitation between peer support specialists and nonpeer academic researchers, and indicated that this methodology is feasible for nonpeer academic researchers and peer support specialists alike. Participants expressed challenges with agency restrictions, achieving work-life balance, stigma, and low compensation. We present actionable items to address these challenges in integrated mental health and substance use systems to potentially offset workforce dissatisfaction and high turnover rates.
BACKGROUND
Peer Recovery Support Specialists in the field of mental health and substance misuse reduces stigma, hospitalizations, and health care costs. However, PRSS’s continue to face workforce challenges.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using experienced-based co-design (EBCD) with Peer Recovery Support Specialists, and investigate Peer Recovery Support Specialists’ experiences regarding training, recruiting, hiring, management, work roles, and retention in the mental health and substance misuse workplace.
METHODS
This project utilized an EBCD, enrolling 15 Peer Recovery Support Specialists from three agencies who participated in focus groups. Peer Recovery Support Specialists partnered with scientists, participated in research training, and led focus groups and discussions.
RESULTS
Participants reported that having lived experience is the most powerful component to conducting peer work. However, they expressed challenges with agency restrictions, achieving work-life balance, stigma, and low compensation. Participants offered solutions to peer workforce related challenges.
CONCLUSIONS
Through the use of EBCD, the study suggests using EBCD with peer support specialists is feasible and produced important additions to the literature on workforce challenges. This report can be used to guide the advancement of the peer workforce.
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