What is Peer Support? - Why do we do what we do?
The need for Intentional Peer Support (IPS)
Intentional Peer Support is becoming more recognised as an effective intervention in the therapeutic treatment of psychosis and other mental illness. As studies and trials emerge that focus on this technique of support, it becomes clear that the evidence backs up the model as a new way of providing therapeutic support and psycho-education. Intentional Peer Support has been found to improve levels of wellbeing during one on one support as well as in groups.
The peer support relationship uses shared experiences to form a base for the growth of authentic empathy and validation of people involved, in a way that requires people to connect on a mutual level. In the introduction to “The effectiveness of peer support groups in psychosis: a randomised controlled trial” Castelein et al. (2008) say, “Peer support is based on the assumption that people who share similar experiences can offer each other emotional appraisal, and informational support and hope.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008)
Castelein et al. (2008) then go on to say, “several studies have established the need for peer support groups for adults with psychosis and have suggested their potential effect on relapse, symptoms, social network, and quality of life. This need may be even more pressing given the negative and restrictive influence of psychotic disorders on one’s social life.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008) Here they suggest that social network, social support, self efficacy, self esteem, and quality of life are valid outcomes of peer support – the results of this trial showed a positive effect on all tested variables. They conclude by saying that Peer support groups are useful for people with psychosis because this intervention improves their social network.
A second important study was conducted by Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) titled “Integrating Peer-Provided Services: A Quasi-experimental Study of Recovery Orientation, Confidence, and Empowerment”. In this study, the effectiveness of a peer education and support program was compared with standard care without peer support. The test group consisted of 296 combat veterans based at the Errera Community Care Centre of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States of America, and the peer group was led by Moe Armstrong who developed and implemented the program.
His personal experience as a combat veteran with schizophrenia was a key part of allowing this group study to take place, but equally important was the willingness to collaborate with clinical staff and practices. Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) used measures of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment, and concluded that “peer support may enhance personal well-being as measured by both recovery oriented and more traditional clinical measures.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
The need for IPS in this community
The study from Castelein et al. (2008) will be instrumental in gaining further funding for ongoing IPS groups, since the measures they use are very similar to those which are proposed to be used when evaluating IPS. Their findings of this study show that “RCT on peer support groups for people with psychosis demonstrates that this intervention is effective in improving their social network by encouraging mutual relationships and in enhancing their appraisal support.”(Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008)
Also important, will be the study from Resnick and Rosenheck (2008), who show that peer provided services can be effectively integrated with clinical services to the extent that hope for the future develops amongst, otherwise, seemingly helpless psychiatric patients. “Most peer-provided mental health services believe that consumers can benefit from interacting with people who have themselves experienced similar difficulties, learned to cope with them, and found reasons for hope for the future. Peer services are founded on core values, such as empowerment....meaningful life choices, and the valuation of lives of people with disabilities as equal to those of people without disabilities.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
Resnick and Rosenheck (2008), also cite existing studies which, “suggest that consumers can be effective providers of mental health services in ‘professional’ settings, and the employment of peers as service providers is an increasingly common practice.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008) These findings are important since it supports the proposal that there is the need and a place for Intentional Peer Support group programs.
Finally, Castelein et al. (2008) have discussed that, “the finding that peer support groups lead to more mutual relationships is essential, as most people with psychotic disorders have small social networks with few opportunities to share their experiences with other people....they report feeling more appreciated.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008). This correlates with Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) who discuss the idea at length, and mention that in a feasibility study, “individuals with schizophrenia....showed an increase in knowledge of illness and trust in psychiatric treatment.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
These findings and conclusions are of critical importance when assessing the need for IPS in this community since there is limited literature showing the nature of Intentional Peer Support in New Zealand as yet, but the evidence from overseas is overwhelming.
Purpose, objectives and goals of IPS
The aim of IPS is to explore some of the following goals with members bringing ideas to share in the peer support process. The goals of an intentional peer support relationship include but are not limited to:
· Creating mutual learning relationships rather than service relationships
· Reconnecting with Whanau/family and our culture in the community
· Exploring with each other how we make sense of our world
· Redefining mental health
· Figuring out how this model can work for all of us
· Challenging each other in a supportive way to move towards the life we want for ourselves
The purpose of Intentional Peer Support is to create validation and authentic empathy between people of similar collective life experiences, and in doing so, bringing out powerful inner resources which are difficult to access from a clinical perspective.
Intentional Peer Support is becoming more recognised as an effective intervention in the therapeutic treatment of psychosis and other mental illness. As studies and trials emerge that focus on this technique of support, it becomes clear that the evidence backs up the model as a new way of providing therapeutic support and psycho-education. Intentional Peer Support has been found to improve levels of wellbeing during one on one support as well as in groups.
The peer support relationship uses shared experiences to form a base for the growth of authentic empathy and validation of people involved, in a way that requires people to connect on a mutual level. In the introduction to “The effectiveness of peer support groups in psychosis: a randomised controlled trial” Castelein et al. (2008) say, “Peer support is based on the assumption that people who share similar experiences can offer each other emotional appraisal, and informational support and hope.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008)
Castelein et al. (2008) then go on to say, “several studies have established the need for peer support groups for adults with psychosis and have suggested their potential effect on relapse, symptoms, social network, and quality of life. This need may be even more pressing given the negative and restrictive influence of psychotic disorders on one’s social life.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008) Here they suggest that social network, social support, self efficacy, self esteem, and quality of life are valid outcomes of peer support – the results of this trial showed a positive effect on all tested variables. They conclude by saying that Peer support groups are useful for people with psychosis because this intervention improves their social network.
A second important study was conducted by Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) titled “Integrating Peer-Provided Services: A Quasi-experimental Study of Recovery Orientation, Confidence, and Empowerment”. In this study, the effectiveness of a peer education and support program was compared with standard care without peer support. The test group consisted of 296 combat veterans based at the Errera Community Care Centre of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States of America, and the peer group was led by Moe Armstrong who developed and implemented the program.
His personal experience as a combat veteran with schizophrenia was a key part of allowing this group study to take place, but equally important was the willingness to collaborate with clinical staff and practices. Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) used measures of recovery orientation, confidence, and empowerment, and concluded that “peer support may enhance personal well-being as measured by both recovery oriented and more traditional clinical measures.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
The need for IPS in this community
The study from Castelein et al. (2008) will be instrumental in gaining further funding for ongoing IPS groups, since the measures they use are very similar to those which are proposed to be used when evaluating IPS. Their findings of this study show that “RCT on peer support groups for people with psychosis demonstrates that this intervention is effective in improving their social network by encouraging mutual relationships and in enhancing their appraisal support.”(Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008)
Also important, will be the study from Resnick and Rosenheck (2008), who show that peer provided services can be effectively integrated with clinical services to the extent that hope for the future develops amongst, otherwise, seemingly helpless psychiatric patients. “Most peer-provided mental health services believe that consumers can benefit from interacting with people who have themselves experienced similar difficulties, learned to cope with them, and found reasons for hope for the future. Peer services are founded on core values, such as empowerment....meaningful life choices, and the valuation of lives of people with disabilities as equal to those of people without disabilities.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
Resnick and Rosenheck (2008), also cite existing studies which, “suggest that consumers can be effective providers of mental health services in ‘professional’ settings, and the employment of peers as service providers is an increasingly common practice.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008) These findings are important since it supports the proposal that there is the need and a place for Intentional Peer Support group programs.
Finally, Castelein et al. (2008) have discussed that, “the finding that peer support groups lead to more mutual relationships is essential, as most people with psychotic disorders have small social networks with few opportunities to share their experiences with other people....they report feeling more appreciated.” (Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 118:64-72, 2008). This correlates with Resnick and Rosenheck (2008) who discuss the idea at length, and mention that in a feasibility study, “individuals with schizophrenia....showed an increase in knowledge of illness and trust in psychiatric treatment.” (Psychiatric Services 59:1307-1314, 2008)
These findings and conclusions are of critical importance when assessing the need for IPS in this community since there is limited literature showing the nature of Intentional Peer Support in New Zealand as yet, but the evidence from overseas is overwhelming.
Purpose, objectives and goals of IPS
The aim of IPS is to explore some of the following goals with members bringing ideas to share in the peer support process. The goals of an intentional peer support relationship include but are not limited to:
· Creating mutual learning relationships rather than service relationships
· Reconnecting with Whanau/family and our culture in the community
· Exploring with each other how we make sense of our world
· Redefining mental health
· Figuring out how this model can work for all of us
· Challenging each other in a supportive way to move towards the life we want for ourselves
The purpose of Intentional Peer Support is to create validation and authentic empathy between people of similar collective life experiences, and in doing so, bringing out powerful inner resources which are difficult to access from a clinical perspective.