Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 17
What works for peer support groups: learning from mental health and wellbeing groups in Bath and North East Somerset
- Authors:
- FIELDHOUSE Jon, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 21(1), 2017, pp.25-33.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore what worked well in terms of peer involvement in a diverse network of community groups for people affected by mental health problems in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), UK. Design/methodology/approach: A participatory action inquiry approach engaged the network’s key stakeholders (group members, facilitators, and commissioners) in critical reflection on what supported successful groups. Findings: Successful groups have six characteristics: mutual support, a positive shared identity, opportunities for taking on roles, negotiated ground rules, skilled facilitation, and a conducive physical environment. Additionally, each group achieved a balance between the following areas of tension: needing ground rules but wanting to avoid bureaucracy, needing internal structure whilst also committing to group activities, balancing leadership with accountability, wanting peer leadership whilst acknowledging the burden of this responsibility, and lobbying for change in mental health services whilst acknowledging the need for support from them. Research limitations/implications: The evaluation shows a group’s success is about adaptability and group facilitation is the art of navigating a course through these competing demands above. These insights have informed plans for a practical guide for developing peer led groups and for training of peer leaders in BANES. Originality/value: This evaluation focuses on self-efficacy. It draws on group members’ own perceptions of what worked best for them to provide transferable learning about how peer led support groups might develop more generally. It can thus inform the growth of a comparatively new kind of community-based support for people with mental health problems and for their carers. (Publisher abstract)
Side by Side evaluation: economic analysis
- Authors:
- MCDAID David, PARK A-La
- Publisher:
- London School of Economics and Political Science. Personal Social Services Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 47
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents findings of the economic analysis of an evaluation of the Side by Side peer support programme, which aimed to increase the availability of peer support for people experiencing mental health problems. The report also summarises key conclusions from a literature review on the cost effectiveness of peer support and explores some of the uncertainties around both the effectiveness and costs of peer support by looking at specific scenarios using a decision modelling approach. Key findings from the literature review confirm that there is little information on the cost effectiveness of peer support in the published literature, most of which is not from a UK context. Analysis of experience in Side by Side suggests that it may have a favourable impact on future costs, with improvements in mean quality life scores compared to baseline. The results of the analysis suggest that peer support can be cost effective and in some cases potentially cost saving, depending on the costs of delivering peer support. Finally, it highlights the importance of capturing the full value of the time and resources volunteered in peer support and not just paid inputs. Potentially, the reciprocal contributions of all involved in peer support will also create valuable additional components of any local mental health system. (Edited publisher abstract)
Developing peer support in the community: a toolkit
- Author:
- SIDE BY SIDE RESEARCH CONSORTIUM
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 76
- Place of publication:
- London
A toolkit to help people to plan and run mental health peer support in the community. The toolkit will be especially useful for those wanting to set up new projects or those involved in commissioning peer support. It outlines the three main approaches to community-based peer support and lists a core set of values underpinning peer support, and make it different from other forms of mental health support. It also looks at how peer support might be organised and provides guidance on how to better understand and communicate the impact of groups. Sections of the toolkit include reflection questions and activities which were developed alongside more than 10 groups and projects. Links to useful resources are included. The toolkit is based upon research undertaken by the Side by Side evaluation partners, which included St George’s, University of London, the McPin Foundation, and the London School of Economics. (Edited publisher abstract)
Are hearing voices networks compatible with cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis?
- Authors:
- KAY Gordon, KENDALL Elizabeth, DARK Frances
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 70(3), 2017, pp.312-323.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The most extensively evaluated intervention for auditory hallucinations is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), which is usually delivered in statutory settings by experienced clinicians. In contrast, peer support networks, such as the Hearing Voices Network (HVN), operate informally using peers to normalise and manage voices. This article compares these two approaches to identify points of synergy and difference. Its analysis suggests the two approaches share many features, but also deviate in important ways that could compensate for each other. Instead of competing with each other as might first be thought, they may actually be complementary. Further, HVN may align comfortably with the values and principles of social work. Social workers seeking to engage with voice hearers may be advised to study the underlying principles of each approach to guide the way in which they can capitalise on intervention opportunities to better assist voice hearers. (Publisher abstract)
Peer support in full-service partnerships: a multiple case study analysis
- Authors:
- SIANTZ Elizabeth, HENWOOD Benjamin, GILMER Todd
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 53(5), 2017, pp.542-549.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Peer providers are integral to Full Service Partnerships (FSPs), which are team-based mental health service models. Peer providers use principles of recovery to engage clients, but FSPs can vary in their recovery orientation. Whether and how peer recovery orientation reflects the organisational environments of FSPs is unclear. This qualitative study explored peer provider attitudes towards recovery within the organisational contexts of FSPs where they are employed. Case study analysis was conducted on eight purposively sampled FSPs using qualitative interviews with peer providers and program directors. In two cases, peer recovery attitudes diverged from those of their organisational context. In these cases, peer providers were champions for recovery, and used practice-based strategies to promote client autonomy despite working in settings with lower recovery orientation. Peer providers could be uniquely positioned to promote client autonomy in settings where organisational factors limit consumer choice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Exploring the impact of peer support in early intervention in psychosis
- Authors:
- WHITE Hannah, PRICE Laura, BARKER Tom
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 22(2), 2017, pp.102-109.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Peer support (PS) has, over recent years, been implemented across a variety of NHS adult mental health settings. In November 2015, peer support workers (PSW) were introduced to an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service (EIS) in the Midlands. The purpose of this paper is to focus on organisational factors, asking how do PS impact on an early intervention in psychosis multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Design/methodology/approach: Six EIS MDT members participated in an hour-long focus group. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, in line with a qualitative methodology (Braun and Clarke, 2006). Findings: Two themes were generated, including “The values of PS” (consisting of three sub-themes: improving service engagement; personal qualities; and the peer relationship); and “The peer support role” (consisting of three sub-themes: living experience; boundaries; and alternative perspectives). Findings imply that PS in the current EIS related to: improved service engagement and greater understanding between service providers and users; which could be linked to better outcomes for service users (such as reduced duration of untreated psychosis (DUP)). Originality/value: It has been suggested that PSWs facilitate an improved understanding between service providers and service users (Repper and Watson, 2012). However, research into organisational and team benefits of PS is lacking, with a need for more exploration (Repper, 2013). The current study begins to address the lack of literature regarding the organisational impact of PS, and even further regarding early intervention. (Publisher abstract)
Evaluating the Side by Side peer support programme
- Authors:
- BILLSBOROUGH Julie, et al
- Publishers:
- St George's University of London, McPin Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 441
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the Side by Side programme, which aimed to increase the availability and quality of community based peer support for people experiencing mental health problems across England. The programme was led by the mental health charity Mind, in collaboration with Depression Alliance and Bipolar UK. The evaluation covered four areas: developing and testing a set of values and principles for peer support; examining the effectiveness of peer support, including changes in wellbeing; building capacity for peer support; and commissioning peer support. It also explored how peer support took place within Side by Side projects specifically aimed at peers from a Black and Minority Ethnic background. The evaluation found that peer support was valued and helpful to people involved. It also identified six core values that appeared to underpin all forms of peer support - experience in common, safety, choice and control, two way interactions, human connection, and freedom to be oneself. The findings suggest that peer support enabled people to recover a sense of personal agency and usefulness, which was beneficial to their wellbeing. The evaluation also suggests that peer support works best where commissioners, provider organisations and communities work together to develop a range of approaches to peer support and where people are enabled to take control of how and when they engage with the peer support. The evaluation team was a partnership that included a mental health research team from St George’s, University of London, the McPin Foundation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Get Set to Go programme evaluation summary: 2014 to 2017
- Author:
- MIND
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 40
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the Get Set to Go programme, launched in July 2015 to help people with mental health problems benefit from being physically active. Participants took part in specially designed physical activity projects delivered across England and received group and one-to-one support from peers with an understanding of how mental health can be a barrier to physical activity. A website was also developed to support users to share their stories about the impact getting active has had for them. In total, the programme has supported 3,585 people with mental health problems get more active. The evaluation of the programme, which was carried out by researchers from Loughborough University and the University of Northampton collected information from over 1,000 participants to track their progress. The findings show that physical activity has an important role to play in building resilience, enabling and supporting mental health recovery and tackling stigma and discrimination. The report also provides recommendations for organisations wanting to support people with mental health problems to become more active. (Edited publisher abstract)
Individual, group and organised experiential expertise in recovery from intimate partner violence and mental health problems in Finland
- Authors:
- HOKKANEN Liisa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 47(4), 2017, p.1147–1165.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper examines recovery from intimate partner violence and mental health problems through the perspective of experiential expertise (EE). The aim is to investigate the formation of EE in the context of empowerment-oriented recovery in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This triangulated study includes both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative part was acquired through a survey on people with personal experience of mental health problems (N = 133) and the qualitative part was collected from a development project including sixty female victims of intimate partner violence and nine professionals who worked with the women. First, the data were analysed separately through statistical analysis and hermeneutic close reading. Second, a triangulated synthesis was made. There are three types of EE: individual, group and organised. These provide a basis for personal and social empowerment. EE consists of emotional and influential ways of acting, which enable renewed action as well as the reformation of a self-image. The authors' findings indicate that the relation between EE and recovery is reciprocal and mutually beneficial. It is argued that especially group and organised EE should be integrated more firmly into social work practices, preventive social policy and structural social work. (Edited publisher abstract)
Introduction to the research on: what works to improve social networks and prevent social isolation for people with mental health problems
- Authors:
- HARFLETT Naomi, JENNINGS Yasmin, LINSKY Kate
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 17
- Place of publication:
- Bath
This short scoping review identifies research into what works to improve the social networks and prevent social isolation for people with mental health problems. Searches for the review were conducted on organisational websites and a range of databases, including Social Care Online, for UK based research published from 2000. The review provides an overview of the quantity and quality of the research and a table summarising the 24 studies reviewed and their key findings. It also provides a summary of areas identified for future research. The review found that the evidence around effectiveness of interventions to prevent loneliness and social isolation is patchy and findings are inconsistent. However, there is evidence to show that staff can play a key role in facilitating social networks and that activity-based interventions - such as horticulture, sport and learning - can increase social networks and reduce social isolation. The review also found that befriending may be beneficial to peoples’ mental health, but that there is inconclusive evidence on the impact of peer support. (Edited publisher abstract)