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Qualitative Evaluation of a Peer Navigator Program for Latinos with Serious Mental Illness

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Abstract

Peer navigator programs (PNP) may help reduce physical health disparities for ethnic minorities with serious mental illness (SMI). However, specific aspects of PNP that are important to peer navigators and their clients are under-researched. A qualitative study explored the perspectives of service users (n = 15) and peer navigators (n = 5) participating in a randomized controlled trial of a PNP for Latinos with SMI. Results show PN engagement with service users spans diverse areas and that interactions with peers, trust, and accessibility are important from a service user perspective. PNs discussed needs for high-quality supervision, organizational support, and additional resources for undocumented Latinos.

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Acknowledgements

Collaborators for The Latino Consumer Research Team includes: Jaime Esquivel, Mavis Linda Lehmann, Patricia Muñoz, Judith Ortiz, Marilyn Perez-Aviles, Timoteo Rodriguez, Nelson Santiago, and Reverend Rudy Suarez.

Funding

Research reported in this article was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award (AD-1306-01419). The statements presented in this article, are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI, its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA

    Lindsay Sheehan, Alessandra Torres, Juana L. Lara, Deysi Paniagua, Jonathon E. Larson & Patrick W. Corrigan

  2. Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, Chicago, USA

    John Mayes & Susan Doig

  3. Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3424 S. State Street, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA

    Lindsay Sheehan

Authors
  1. Lindsay Sheehan
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  2. Alessandra Torres
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  3. Juana L. Lara
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  4. Deysi Paniagua
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  5. Jonathon E. Larson
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  6. John Mayes
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  7. Susan Doig
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  8. Patrick W. Corrigan
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Consortia

The Latino Consumer Research Team

  • Jaime Esquivel
  • , Mavis Linda Lehmann
  • , Patricia Muñoz
  • , Judith Ortiz
  • , Marilyn Perez-Aviles
  • , Timoteo Rodriguez
  • , Nelson Santiago
  •  & Reverend Rudy Suarez

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lindsay Sheehan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Lindsay Sheehan declares that she has no conflict of interest. Alessandra Torres declares that she has no conflict of interest. Juana L. Lara declares that she has no conflict of interest. Deysi Paniagua declares that she has no conflict of interest. Jonathon E. Larson declares that he has no conflict of interest. John Mayes declares that he has no conflict of interest. Susan Doig declares that she has no conflict of interest. The Latino Consumer Research Team declares that its members have no conflict of interest. Patrick W. Corrigan declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Collaborators of The Latino Consumer Research Team are listed in “Acknowledgments”.

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Sheehan, L., Torres, A., Lara, J.L. et al. Qualitative Evaluation of a Peer Navigator Program for Latinos with Serious Mental Illness. Adm Policy Ment Health 45, 495–504 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0839-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-017-0839-5

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