The impact of peer support work on the mental health of peer support specialists.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Peers support specialists have positive impacts on the mental health of their service users. However, less is known about how their mental health changes as a result of their activities.

Methods

We followed 10 peer support specialists over their first year of employment and interviewed them thrice. We used grounded theory to analyse the way in which the health of participants changed.

Results

Self-reported mental health of our participants did not change over the course of the study. However, the role did help participants grow and learn about their condition and their strengths. While sharing their past experiences could be taxing, they learned how to harness their recovery journey without risking relapse.

Conclusion

Entering the role of a peer supp

SUBMITTER: Poremski D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9578199 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature