Peer Support

Background Peer support work for substance use disorders is widely implemented in high-income countries. More research is still needed to understand its applicability in settings which have proportionately low budgets allocated to mental health. Peer Support Workers are individuals who managed to achieve recovery from substance use disorders and help people remain engaged in their recovery and prevent relapse through shared understanding. Aim To investigate the experience of peer support workers providing recovery support to people with substance use disorders in Egypt. Methods A qualitative phenomenological design was used in which 17 adults working as peer support workers for substance use disorders were recruited by means of purposive and snowball sampling. A semi-structured interview with participants was conducted by phone or video-call. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed based on descriptive phenomenology. Results Three superordinate themes were identified: ...

This study explored the changing views of key stakeholders (peer support workers, their co-workers, and service users) about peer support services in a non-Western community, using a longitudinal qualitative approach. Five trainee peer support workers (PSWs), 15 service users, and 14 co-workers were interviewed over a 12-month period, under the auspices of the Peer Support Workers Project (also known as the Mindset project) in Hong Kong. A total of 77 interviews were transcribed and thematic analyses were conducted across the participant groups at three different time points (training, work placements, and employment). During the initial implementation of the services, uncertainty about the role of the PSWs were reported. However, trusting and beneficial relationships with service users were gradually built, showing growing resilience and confidence over time. The participants realized that PSWs' experiences of mental illnesses were a unique asset that could help service users t...

Background. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications are increasing rapidly. Support for healthy lifestyle and self-management is paramount, but not adequately implemented in health systems in most countries. Process evaluations facilitate understanding why and how interventions work through analysing the interaction between intervention theory, implementation and context. The SMART2D project implemented and evaluated community-based support interventions for persons at high risk of or having T2D in a rural community in Uganda, an urban township in South Africa, and socio-economically disadvantaged urban communities in Sweden. This study presents comprehensive analyses of the implementation process and interaction with context. Methods. This paper reports implementation process outcomes across the three sites, guided by the MRC framework for complex intervention process evaluations and focusing on the three community strategies (peer support program; care companion; and link betw...

Background: African Americans chronically managing their diabetes benefit from receiving support from peers with shared experiences. Peer support is known to improve the well-being of individuals receiving support, however, there is limited literature on the experiences of those providing the support. The Peers Supporting Health Literacy, Self-efficacy, Self-Advocacy, and Adherence (Peers LEAD) program pairs Peer Ambassadors who are adherent to their diabetes medication, with Peer Buddies who need support with their medication adherence. Peer Ambassadors engage with Peer Buddies as they receive diabetes information, develop the skills and motivation to address identified psychosocial/sociocultural issues to enhance their diabetes medication adherence. This study qualitatively explores the experiences of African Americans who provided peer support in the Peers LEAD medication adherence intervention. Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with twelve Peer Ambassadors to explore thei...

Background The extant literature suggests that poorly defined job roles make it difficult for peer support workers to be successful, and hinder their integration into multi-disciplinary workplace teams. This article uses data gathered as part of a participatory evaluation of a peer support program at a psychiatric tertiary care facility to specify the work that peers do. Methods Data were gathered through interviews, focus groups, and activity logs and were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results Peers engage in direct work with clients and in indirect work that supports their work with clients. The main types of direct work are advocacy, connecting to resources, experiential sharing, building community, relationship building, group facilitation, skill building/mentoring/goal setting, and socialization/self-esteem building. The main types of indirect work are group planning and development, administration, team communication, supervision/training, receiving suppo...

Background Since 2008 in Mozambique, patients stable on antiretroviral therapy (ART) can join Community ART Groups (CAG), peer groups in which members are involved in adherence support and community ART delivery. More than 10 years after the implementation of the first CAGs, we study how changes in circumstance and daily life events of CAG members have affected the CAG dynamic. Methods A qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews (27) and focus group discussions (8) with CAG members and health care providers was carried out in Tete province, rural Mozambique. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data were transcribed and translated, and manual thematic analysis carried out to identify codes, which were then categorized in sub-themes and themes. Results Data were collected from 61 CAG members and 18 health-care providers in 2017. The CAG dynamic was affected by life events and changing circumstances including a loss of geographical proximity or a change in ...

Suicide bereavement support groups are a widely available format of postvention service. Although other reviews have addressed peer-led bereavement interventions, no review has focused specifically on peer-led support for people bereaved by suicide. Informed by a framework for undertaking scoping reviews, we conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches conducted in May 2021 of peer-reviewed literature in MEDLINE (EBSCO), CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), PsycINFO (EBSCO), EMBASE (Elsevier), AMED (EBSCO), ERIC (EBSCO), Web of Science (Core Collection), ASSIA (Proquest), and Global Index Medicus. The search was not limited by language, and all studies were included to full text screening. The search identified 10 studies conducted between 1994 and 2020 in five countries. The selected papers were subjected to quality assessment. The interventions included face-to-face groups, telephone and online groups/forums and were evaluated using a variety of methodologies, wh...

Objective: Social support is one mechanism through which peer support physical activity (PA) interventions influence behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore the sources and characteristics of social support for PA among office-based work colleagues. Design: A sequential mixed-methods approach was used. First, social network analysis was utilised to map the sources of social support. Then interviews and focus groups were used to explore the characteristics of this support. Setting: One UK public sector employer in the south of England. Method: Using an online survey, 99 employees (40 men; Mage = 40 ± 12 years) reported their PA and named specific colleagues who provided four forms of social support for PA (emotional, informational, companionship, validation). Social network diagrams for each support network were visualised using UCINET and Netdraw. Individuals identified as most frequently providing support for PA participated in one-to-one interviews ( n = 6) to discuss thei...

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications are increasing rapidly. Support for healthy lifestyle and self-management is paramount, but not adequately implemented in health systems in most countries. Process evaluations facilitate understanding why and how interventions work through analysing the interaction between intervention theory, implementation and context. The SMART2D project implemented and evaluated community-based support interventions for persons at high risk of or having T2D in a rural community in Uganda, an urban township in South Africa, and socio-economically disadvantaged urban communities in Sweden. This study presents comprehensive analyses of the implementation process and interaction with context.MethodsThis paper reports implementation process outcomes across the three sites, guided by the MRC framework for complex intervention process evaluations and focusing on the three community strategies (peer support program; care companion; and link between f...

While pre-adolescent children with type 1 diabetes receive most support from their parents/caregivers, others also contribute to their care. This study explored pre-adolescent children's experiences of receiving diabetes-related support from friends and peers. The objective was to identify how children could be better supported by their friends and peers to undertake diabetes self-management. In-depth interviews with 24 children (aged 9-12 years) with type 1 diabetes. Data were analysed using an inductive, thematic approach. Children gave mixed accounts of their experiences of speaking to their school/class about diabetes with some indicating that this had resulted in unwanted attention. Most individuals reported that other children had a limited understanding of diabetes and sometimes acted in insensitive ways or said things they found upsetting. Virtually all children described having a small number of close friends who were interested in learning about diabetes and provided t...

Academic stress can now be found among vocational students, but this can be overcome by facilitating Parental Social Support, Peer Social Support and Emotional Intelligence. The purpose of this study is to prove Parental Social Support, Peer Social Support with Emotional Intelligence as a predictor of Academic Stress. The subjects in this study were 150 students of SMK Negeri 1 Kedung and the method of data collection in this study was psychological scale. Data analysis using multiple linear regression statistical techniques, all calculations using SPSS version 20.0. The results of data analysis obtained the simultaneous value of R between Parental Social Support, Peer Social Support and Emotional Intelligence towards Academic Stress was 0.321 and F value = 12.420 with a significance value of 0.000 (p <0.05). This shows that there is a simultaneous influence between parental social support, peer social support and emotional intelligence on academic stress and also obtained R Squa...

Author(s): Dodds, Robin Lynn | Advisor(s): Singer, George H.S. | Abstract: The question of who is ready to serve as a help-giver reflects an unresolved question in the research on parents of children with disabilities. There is little consensus as to whether or not there are regular, predictable phases of adaptation to a child’s disability. The purpose of this research was to develop a measure of readiness to be trained as a supporting parent volunteer for the Parent to Parent USA Network (P2P). The measure is based on a theory of change developed from a qualitative interview study with P2P leaders and a review of the literature. The measure was hypothesized to be comprised of multiple dimensions corresponding to the categories of; giving back, successes, building capacities, building relationships, communication/ listening, positive thinking, future orientation and red flags. Following exploratory factor analyses, a three-factor solution was attained. The 17-item measure of readine...

To examine selection criteria for Parent-to-Parent support parents trained to provide support to other parents of children with disabilities. Ten leaders of Parent-to-Parent programmes participated in telephone interviews to explore attributes associated with parents selected to be trained as support parents. Qualitative analysis reveals parents deemed "ready" to become support parents, build relationships, exhibit positivity, build capacities, have good communication skills and a future orientation and feel the need to give back. An additional set of attributes we have named, "red flags" are associated with parents not suitable to provide support are also presented. Parent-to-Parent support parents are informally identified by a set of characteristics that can be operationalized for screening purposes. Findings provide support for the positive influence of the peer support relationship and identify the need for a measure of parent "readiness" to assist...

Parents of disabled children often seek support from their peers. The shared experience between parents appears to be a crucial mediating factor. Understanding how a sense of shared experience is fostered can help to design and evaluate services that seek to provide peer support. We carried out a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Participants were 12 parents and 23 befrienders who had contact with the Face2Face one-to-one befriending service in Devon and Cornwall during a 12-month period, and 10 professionals from health, social care and education. Formal structures and processes in place such as training and ongoing supervision and support were highly valued as was the highly personalized, confidential, flexible, one-to-one at-home nature of the service. Crucial to establishing rapport was putting the right people together and ensuring a good match between befrienders and parents. Clearly, the befriending parent has to be emotionally prepared ...

In the context of a larger case study on how continuous learning in the workplace could be achieved through the implementation of peer collaboration, the process of how counsellors engaged in self-care within a large health care organization became clearer. This article is based on data derived from a qualitative analysis of nine transcribed audiotaped meetings of the Counselling Trio, a group of three grief counsellors in a large urban health region. By describing the formation of the peer collaboration groups, the processes that led to the Counselling Trio's successful collaboration, and the impact of the experience on the three participants, we attempt to illustrate how peer collaboration can be used as a forum for self-care among grief counsellors. We conclude with a critical refl ection on the potential of peer collaboration as a vehicle for organizational support of counsellor self-care.

Background: The present study assessed the feasibility of delivering peer support for couples coping with prostate cancer within a trial design. Methods/Design: Ten peer volunteers completed training in research protocols and delivering tele-based couples support to men with prostate cancer and their partners. Twenty couples received an eight session intervention and were assessed before surgery and 3 and 6 months subsequently for adjustment outcomes. A focus group investigated the peers' experiences. Results: Peers were motivated by altruism, a belief in research, and reported personal growth. The research protocol at times conflicted with lay models of helping, and the focus on sexuality and couples was challenging. Distress decreased over time but more so for partners; unmet sexuality needs did not improve. Conclusion: Peer support appears promising as a model to support couples facing prostate cancer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Supported wellbeing centres were set up in UK hospital trusts as an early intervention aimed at mitigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. These provided high quality rest spaces with peer-to-peer psychological support provided by National Health Service (NHS) staff volunteers called ‘wellbeing buddies’, trained in psychological first aid. The aim of the study was to explore the views of centre visitors and operational staff towards this COVID-19 workforce wellbeing provision. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twenty-four (20F, 4M) employees from an acute hospital trust in the UK. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed, data were handled and analysed using thematic analysis. Interviews generated 3 over-arching themes, and 13 sub-themes covering ‘exposure and job roles’, ‘emotional impacts of COVID-19 and ‘the wellbeing centres’. Supported wellbeing centres were viewed as critical for the wellbeing of hospital employee...

AimsRecovery Colleges are opening internationally. The evaluation focus has been on outcomes for Recovery College students who use mental health services. However, benefits may also arise for: staff who attend or co-deliver courses; the mental health and social care service hosting the Recovery College; and wider society. A theory-based change model characterising how Recovery Colleges impact at these higher levels is needed for formal evaluation of their impact, and to inform future Recovery College development. The aim of this study was to develop a stratified theory identifying candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes (impact) for Recovery Colleges at staff, services and societal levels.MethodsInductive thematic analysis of 44 publications identified in a systematised review was supplemented by collaborative analysis involving a lived experience advisory panel to develop a preliminary theoretical framework. This was refined through semi-structured interviews with 33 Recovery C...

AimsRecovery Colleges are opening internationally. The evaluation focus has been on outcomes for Recovery College students who use mental health services. However, benefits may also arise for: staff who attend or co-deliver courses; the mental health and social care service hosting the Recovery College; and wider society. A theory-based change model characterising how Recovery Colleges impact at these higher levels is needed for formal evaluation of their impact, and to inform future Recovery College development. The aim of this study was to develop a stratified theory identifying candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes (impact) for Recovery Colleges at staff, services and societal levels.MethodsInductive thematic analysis of 44 publications identified in a systematised review was supplemented by collaborative analysis involving a lived experience advisory panel to develop a preliminary theoretical framework. This was refined through semi-structured interviews with 33 Recovery C...

Individuals with severe mental illness have a significant risk of (anticipated) discrimination and (criminal) victimisation, which is not structurally and systematically addressed by mental health practitioners. The aim of this study was to develop and pilot an intervention which supports professionals to address victimisation and its consequences, in order to reinforce safe social participation and improve recovery. Following the rehabilitation and positive risk management literature, in addition to current practice, intervention components were developed in two focus groups and four subsequent expert meetings. The intervention was piloted in two outpatient teams before being finalised. The Victoria intervention includes positive risk management, focusing on clients’ narratives and strengths, and awareness of unsafe (home) environments: it comprises four steps: exploring issues with social participation, analysing victimisation experiences, clarifying the context of these experienc...

Schools are increasingly using peer support programmes to support students. This study will explore the effectiveness of peer-to-peer coaching on increasing self-esteem and reducing test anxiety and perceived stress in sixth form students. Fifty-five participants took part in the study. IGROW, a variation of the GROW coaching model, was used to structure a coaching intervention for 27 students, with 28 students receiving no coaching intervention. There was a significant improvement in self-esteem post-intervention for males regardless of group. The coaching group significantly reduced in test anxiety. There was no significant impact of coaching on perceived stress. Further research may determine whether peer coaching may be a beneficial low-cost method to support students during stressful periods.

Background: Adolescents who have acquired HIV perinatally (ALHIV) face unique challenges in taking lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART), but little is known about what factors affect their adherence over the course of their lifelong treatment journey. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study with ALHIV who had periods of poor adherence to ART in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa using Participant-generated Visual Methodologies (PVM). Participants used photography to represent their perspectives and experiences. Results: 14 individuals participated in the research process. We developed a framework and identified four social domains which combined with the adolescent’s own experiences and sense of self to either support or undermine adherence. Periods of non-adherence were reported by all participants. Participants described the importance of supportive relationships and households as well as the benefits of ART as supporting adherence. The fear of inadvertent disclosure of their HIV stat...

Previous literature has indicated that Black men are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts and are also more likely to have associated complications. Furthermore, Black men have lower access to quality health care, and masculinity norms have been shown to hinder them from seeking the limited care that is available. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of peer-led diabetes self-management education and long-term ongoing support on glycemic management. The first phase of our study will consist of modification of existing diabetes education content to be more appropriate for the population of interest, Then, in the second phase, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the intervention. Participants randomized to the intervention arm will  receive diabetes self-management education, structured diabetes self-management support, and a more flexible ongoing support period. Participants randomized to the control...

Previous studies of peer support for various types of violence against college students are heteronormative, being primarily concerned with the abuse of heterosexual women by heterosexual males. Using recent data from the Campus Quality of Life Survey conducted at a large residential college in the South Atlantic part of the US, the main objective of this paper is to help fill a major research gap by presenting data on two ways in which negative peer support contribute to sexual violence and stalking in a campus LGBTQ community. The results show that LGBTQ students are more likely to receive such support than heterosexual ones and that negative peer support predicts sexual assault and stalking among both types of students. Implications for further empirical and theoretical work are discussed, as well as some key policy issues.

With participant observations from peer-facilitated suicide survivor support group meetings, collected over a four-year period, this article applies Shulman's dynamics of mutual aid theory to explain how survivors' healing is facilitated by support group participation. Shulman's principles provide guidance on how survivors help and empower each other to deal with their grief in survivor support groups. Group facilitators can provide more clarity and direction to survivors with Shulman's principles, better helping survivors to navigate the bewildering course of healing after suicide loss. We also suggest ways group facilitation knowledge—an essential resource for enhancing healing—can be more widely distributed.

Background Much of the psychosocial care people receive after major incidents and disasters is informal and is provided by families, friends, peer groups and wider social networks. Terrorist attacks have increased in recent years. Therefore, there is a need to better understand and facilitate the informal social support given to survivors. Aims We addressed three questions. First, what is the nature of any informal support-seeking and provision for people who experienced the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack? Second, who provided support, and what makes it helpful? Third, to what extent do support groups based on shared experience of the attack operate as springboards to recovery? Method Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of 18 physically non-injured survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing, registered at the NHS Manchester Resilience Hub. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed. Results Participants often felt constrained from sharing...

The impact of a peer navigator program (PNP) on efforts to address the health needs of Latinos with serious mental illness was examined in a randomized controlled trial. Latinos with a serious mental illness (N=110) were randomly assigned to the PNP (integrated care with a peer navigator [PN]) or to a treatment-as-usual control group (integrated care without a PN) for one year. Data on service engagement (scheduled and received appointments) were assessed weekly, and self-reports of recovery, empowerment, and quality of life were collected at baseline and at four, eight, and 12 months. Findings from group × trial analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) found main and interaction effects for scheduled and achieved appointments, showing better engagement for the PNP group compared with the control group over the course of the study. Significant interactions were found for recovery, empowerment, and quality of life, showing greater improvement for the PNP group compared with the control group...