[Project status: In progress]
Project summaryThe therapeutic value of working from the perspective of lived experience of mental distress, of using services and of supporting friends and family is increasingly being recognised within mental health services around the world. An increase in the prominence of peer support roles has long been called for by people with personal experience of mental health conditions and others supporting recovery-focused mental health service provision. There is now a national drive to expand the peer support workforce across England. Roles are rapidly diversifying within both statutory and third sector services and an increasing range of interventions are being offered. However, little is known about experiences of peer supporters themselves, how they are integrated into the workforce and what forms of peer support may be most valued by people using services. The aim of this linked group of projects is to develop an understanding of the roles of peer support workers in mental health services across England and what the national picture of peer support work looks like. In order to do this, we are conducting a group of projects. Two are already in progress:
We are also considering following on from this conducting a rapid realist review of what works for whom in telemental health, and a national survey of peer support workers in mental health. DISSEMINATION |