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‘Walking the tightrope’: The role of peer support workers in facilitating consumers’ participation in decision‐making
Author(s) -
Cleary Michelle,
Raeburn Toby,
Escott Phil,
West Sancia,
Lopez Violeta
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/inm.12474
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , peer support , mental health , nursing , psychology , service (business) , public relations , qualitative research , medicine , business , marketing , political science , psychiatry , sociology , social science
In adult mental health services, the participation of consumers is essential. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by peer support workers when involving mental health consumers in decision‐making about their care and the strategies they employed to overcome these challenges so as to improve mental health consumers’ participation in decision‐making and recovery. Semi‐structured individual interviews were conducted with six peer support workers currently employed in psychiatric hospitals and/or community mental health systems. Thematic analysis identified challenges related to role definition, power imbalance, doctor‐centric medical approaches to care, and lack of resources. Strategies to overcome these challenges that were reported, included the following: facilitating meaningful involvement for service users, appropriate use of the lived experience, building relationships and communication, promoting rights and advocacy, and promoting professionalism of peer support workers ( PSW s). Nursing staff need ongoing support and education to understand and value the varied roles of PSW s and thereby empower PSW s to engage in enhancing consumer decision‐making. The roles of the PSW s should be viewed as complementary, and greater appreciation and understanding of roles would better support recovery‐oriented care.