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

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    Authors
    Cabral, Linda M.
    Strother, Heather
    Muhr, Kathy
    Sefton, Laura A.
    Savageau, Judith A.
    UMass Chan Affiliations
    Commonwealth Medicine
    Center for Health Policy and Research
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Publication Date
    2014-01-01
    Keywords
    Community healthcare
    Mental health
    Peer
    Qualitative research
    Recovery
    Health Services Research
    Mental and Social Health
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Link to Full Text
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12072
    Abstract
    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.
    Source
    Cabral, L., Strother, H., Muhr, K., Sefton, L. and Savageau, J. (2014), Clarifying the role of the mental health peer specialist in Massachusetts, USA: insights from peer specialists, supervisors and clients. Health & Social Care in the Community, 22: 104–112. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12072. Link to article on publisher's site
    DOI
    10.1111/hsc.12072
    Permanent Link to this Item
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/30051
    PubMed ID
    24313729
    Related Resources
    Link to article in PubMed
    ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
    10.1111/hsc.12072
    Scopus Count
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