Clarifying the role of the mental health peer specialist in Massachusetts, USA: insights from peer specialists, supervisors and clients.

Mental health peer specialists develop peer-to-peer relationships of trust with clients to improve their health and well-being, functioning in ways similar to community health workers. Although the number of peer specialists in use has been increasing, their role in care teams is less defined than t...

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Publicado en:Health & Social Care in the Community Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 104 - 113
Autores principales: Cabral, Linda, Strother, Heather, Muhr, Kathy, Sefton, Laura, Savageau, Judith
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Jan2014
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Clarifying the role of the mental health peer specialist in Massachusetts, USA: insights from peer specialists, supervisors and clients.
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        au:
          Cabral, Linda
          Strother, Heather
          Muhr, Kathy
          Sefton, Laura
          Savageau, Judith
        affil: Center for Health Policy and Research University of Massachusetts Medical School
      sug:
        subj:
          Peer Group
          Role Evaluation
          Mental Health
          Psychiatric Care Evaluation
          Funding Source
          Human
          Qualitative Studies
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Focus Groups
          Massachusetts
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis, Statistical
          Data Analysis Software
          Male
          Female
          Interpersonal Relations
          Male
          Female
      ab: Mental health peer specialists develop peer-to-peer relationships of trust with clients to improve their health and well-being, functioning in ways similar to community health workers. Although the number of peer specialists in use has been increasing, their role in care teams is less defined than that of the community health worker. This qualitative study explored how the peer specialist role is defined across different stakeholder groups, the expectations for this role and how the peer specialist is utilised and integrated across different types of mental health services. Data were collected through interviews and focus groups conducted in Massachusetts with peer specialists ( N = 44), their supervisors ( N = 14) and clients ( N = 10) between September 2009 and January 2011. A consensus coding approach was used and all data outputs were reviewed by the entire team to identify themes. Peer specialists reported that their most important role is to develop relationships with clients and that having lived mental health experience is a key element in creating that bond. They also indicated that educating staff about the recovery model and peer role is another important function. However, they often felt a lack of clarity about their role within their organisation and care team. Supervisors valued the unique experience that peer specialists bring to an organisation. However, without a defined set of expectations for this role, they struggled with training, guiding and evaluating their peer specialist staff. Clients reported that the shared lived experience is important for the relationship and that working with a peer specialist has improved their mental health. With increasing support for person-centred integrated healthcare delivery models, the demand for mental health peer specialist services will probably increase. Therefore, clearer role definition, as well as workforce development focused on team orientation, is necessary for peer specialists to be fully integrated and supported in care teams.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
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        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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