Co-Designing Lived Experience Guide Support for First Responder Mental Health: Defining the Role and Considerations for Implementation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improving the mental health and well-being of first responders has been a priority, leading to increased availability of treatments and services. However, access barriers continue to hinder the effectiveness of these services. Lived experience guides are mental healthcare service navigators who have real-world experience working as a first responder and understand mental health challenges first responders experience. The aim of this study was to use an experience-based co-design methodology to define the lived experience guide role and identify important considerations for implementation in first responder settings.

Methods

Nine current and former first responders from different agencies attended three co-design workshops facilitated by the research team. First re

SUBMITTER: Arjmand HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12514453 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature