"I know that I can help the person and that is priceless to me"-a qualitative study on tasks and experiences of peers in mental healthcare for refugees.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Numerous barriers prevent refugees from accessing indicated psychotherapy in the German healthcare system. Peer support emerges as a potential key element to overcome utilization barriers for refugees in the future. Since 2017, the pilot project "Coordinated Psychotherapeutic Treatment with the Involvement of Peer Support Workers" (COPEER) has been developed and implemented and is currently being evaluated. In COPEER, supervised, but autonomously acting peer support workers (PSWs) accompany and support refugees with mental disorders in the healthcare system.

Objective

This study focuses on the qualitative description of the PSWs' work reality and their positive and negative work-related experiences in COPEER to assess the feasibility and relevance of their role.

SUBMITTER: Bogatzki L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12321529 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature