Providing mental health peer support 2: Relationships with empowerment, hope, recovery, quality of life and internalised stigma

Abstract

Objective: Qualitative research has identified personal costs and benefits for peer supporters associated with their role; however, quantitative evidence is sparse. This study used quantitative methods to explore relationships in experiences of providing peer support with constructs of empowerment, hope, recovery, quality of life and internalised stigma. Differences were examined for those in statutory versus non-statutory services; who had themselves received peer support versus those who had not and who identified having had negative experiences in clinical teams versus those without such experiences. Methods: A cross-sectional online and postal survey was undertaken in tandem with a linked consensus study. In all, 147 peer supporters were recruited from a variety of organisations across the United Kingdom. Validated questionnaires were used to examine constructs. Instruments created for the study measured peer support experiences, and personal costs and benefits involved. Correlations were calculated and results informed further regression analysis. Chi-square tests and independent samples t-tests tested group differences. Results: Peer supporters indicated they experienced almost twice as many role-related personal benefits than personal costs. Benefits included improvements to mental health and well-being, reduced use of services, increased social functioning and development of skills. Total number of personal costs experienced was significantly negatively related to peer supporters’ empowerment and quality of life. There were no significant differences between the groups examined. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: An accumulation of personal costs may result in reduced quality of life; however, costs can be minimised by organisations. Limitations of the research are discussed and recommendations for future research are made including the need for longitudinal research.

Scaling up peer‐led community‐based differentiated support for adolescents living with HIV: keeping the needs of youth peer supporters in mind to sustain success

“…While the predominate focus of research on peer support for ALHIV has focused on the potential benefits to those receiving peer support [26], this study demonstrates that peer supporters themselves also benefit through improved adherence behaviours and self-confidence. But it was characterized as emotionally and at times physically gruelling work, resonating with existing research on other peer support programmes [19,27]. These findings illuminate the specific challenges and needs that might arise for young peer supporters providing HIV support in resourcestretched settings.…”

Therapists’ Experience of Video Consultation in Specialized Mental Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Interview Study

“…These two definitions are interlinked in that recovery as an approach has developed from being described as an individual process [ 12 ]; currently, the inclusion of social recovery, and relational and contextual factors are emphasized [ 13 , 14 ]. Being in recovery from severe mental health illness is often a complex process that involves a range of stakeholders, including both professionals and peer support [ 14 - 16 ], and it is often described as a process in which the service user is in the driver’s seat for their own recovery to live a self-directed life [ 11 ]. In this expanded view of recovery, digital solutions such as VC may have an impact on the process of recovery in numerous ways [ 9 ].…”

Mental health recovery narratives: their impact on service users and other stakeholder groups

“…Peer support is defined as “people with similar experiences of mental health problems [who] share support with each other” (Burke et al , 2018, p. 1). Service users were the first to advocate for peer support as part of the service user movement (Deegan, 1996; Davidson et al , 2012).…”

“…Service users were the first to advocate for peer support as part of the service user movement (Deegan, 1996; Davidson et al , 2012). Their vision was to promote a more consumer-driven and recovery-oriented mental health system (Burke et al , 2018; Chinman et al , 2006), with interventions offered to people living with mental illness by consumers themselves (Anthony, 1993). Implementing peer support is a concrete example of how organizations have transformed to a recovery orientation (Cyr et al , 2016; Gagne et al , 2018).…”