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'Walking the tightrope': The role of peer support workers in facilitating consumers' participation in decision-making
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 17:59 authored by Cleary, M, Raeburn, T, Escott, P, West, S, Lopez, VIn adult mental health services, the participation of consumers is essential. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by peer support workers when involving mental health consumers in decision-making about their care and the strategies they employed to overcome these challenges so as to improve mental health consumers’ participation in decision-making and recovery. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six peer support workers currently employed in psychiatric hospitals and/or community mental health systems. Thematic analysis identified challenges related to role definition, power imbalance, doctor-centric medical approaches to care, and lack of resources. Strategies to overcome these challenges that were reported, included the following: facilitating meaningful involvement for service users, appropriate use of the lived experience, building relationships and communication, promoting rights and advocacy, and promoting professionalism of peer support workers (PSWs). Nursing staff need ongoing support and education to understand and value the varied roles of PSWs and thereby empower PSWs to engage in enhancing consumer decision-making. The roles of the PSWs should be viewed as complementary, and greater appreciation and understanding of roles would better support recovery-oriented care.
History
Publication title
International Journal of Mental Health NursingVolume
27Issue
4Pagination
1266-1272ISSN
1445-8330Department/School
School of NursingPublisher
Blackwell Pub.Place of publication
AustraliaRights statement
Copyright 2018 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.Repository Status
- Restricted