Vocational Peer Support: Results of a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Peer-delivered services for individuals with psychiatric conditions are becoming an established part of the mental health workforce. Given the growing focus on evidence-based supported employment, peer specialists are often assisting individuals who are choosing, getting, or keeping employment. As part of a larger randomized clinical trial examining the effectiveness of an innovative intervention called vocational peer support, 13 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to examine how recipients perceived peer support, and whether or how it was useful for pursuing vocational goals. A thematic analysis approach was utilized for identifying major themes and sub-themes. Results suggest that a key factor in the effectiveness of vocational peer support is the identification with another individual's "lived experience," which then promotes engagement and a sense of normalcy. Vocational peer support may be particularly useful for individuals with psychiatric disabilities wishing to pursue a vocational goal.

The social support, mental health, psychiatric symptoms, and functioning of persons with schizophrenia participating in peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation: a pilot study in Taiwan

“…Give the proven effectiveness of supported employment [12,13], peer support services have also been integrated into vocational rehabilitation systems for persons who experience severe mental illness [14,15]. During job matching, peer support services delivered as part of supported employment offer individualized assistance, and the preferences of persons with disabilities are always respected [12,13].…”

Stakeholder‐driven approach to developing a peer‐mentoring intervention for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co‐occurring mental health conditions

“…Peer mentoring can also facilitate social connection that may be essential for the health, quality of life and participation of otherwise socially isolated young adults with IDD‐MH (Gidugu et al, 2015; Stalker et al, 2011). Evidence suggests peer supports uniquely foster social networks, normalize one's experiences and share strategies that promoted their own recovery—all of which can promote mental health, quality of life and participation (Balogun‐Mwangi, Rogers, Maru, & Magee, 2019; Foley et al, 2012; Gidugu et al, 2015; Kramer et al, 2019).…”

The social support, mental health, psychiatric symptoms, and functioning of persons with schizophrenia participating in peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation: a pilot study in Taiwan

“…Give the proven effectiveness of supported employment [12,13], peer support services have also been integrated into vocational rehabilitation systems for persons with psychiatric disabilities [14,15]. During the job match, peer support services delivered as part of supported employment offer individualized assistance, and the preferences of persons with disabilities are always respected [12,13].…”

“…Peer support workers draw from their own lived experiences to help persons with psychiatric disabilities overcome internalized stigma, lower self-esteem and/or self-e cacy at work [4,13]. Peer support workers also serve as role models for persons with disabilities, by exemplifying the positive outcome that is achievable if persons with disabilities tap into their own predilections, potential, and advantages for employment through self-determination [14,16]. An earlier study found that peer support worker's "lived experience" motivated persons with disabilities to engage in relationship-building and instilled in them a sense of normalcy, both of which facilitated the forming of mutual support and the pursuit of vocational goals by persons with psychiatric disabilities [14].…”

“…Peer support workers also serve as role models for persons with disabilities, by exemplifying the positive outcome that is achievable if persons with disabilities tap into their own predilections, potential, and advantages for employment through self-determination [14,16]. An earlier study found that peer support worker's "lived experience" motivated persons with disabilities to engage in relationship-building and instilled in them a sense of normalcy, both of which facilitated the forming of mutual support and the pursuit of vocational goals by persons with psychiatric disabilities [14]. However, further investigations are warranted to establish a direct link between the effectiveness of peer support services and vocational rehabilitation among persons with psychiatric disabilities.…”