Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Summary, Implications, and Future Directions

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Peer Support Services Reaching People with Schizophrenia

  • 187 Accesses

Abstract

Through the realist review, 150 peer support programs were identified and classified as belonging to one of four categories. Programs were classified as focusing on physical health or mental health. Programs focused on mental health were further classified into three subcategories: standalone peer support services; peer support services delivered in conjunction with clinical care; and clinical, paraclinical, or case management services delivered by peers. Across program categories, results informed the creation of a conceptual model of core components of peer support. The model depicts shared lived experience and peer support values as the basis of peer support, which then influences the functions of peer support: “being there,” assistance in self-management, linkage to clinical care and community resources, social and emotional support, and systems advocacy. These functions are ideally provided on an ongoing basis. Future research may evaluate the effectiveness of each of these core components on outcomes of interest. Suggesting areas for growth in the field, notably absent among mental health-focused interventions were housing, vocational, or educational outcomes. Implementation facilitators and barriers were identified and tended to parallel other transformative change efforts in health care, such as the introduction of the Chronic Care Model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Moll S, Holmes J, Geronimo J, Sherman D. Work transitions for peer support providers in traditional mental health programs: unique challenges and opportunities. Work. 2009;33(4):449–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lloyd-Evans B, Mayo-Wilson E, Harrison B, Istead H, Brown E, Pilling S, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of peer support for people with severe mental illness. BMC Psychiatry. 2014;14(1):39.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Chinman M, George P, Dougherty RH, Daniels AS, Ghose SS, Swift A, et al. Peer support services for individuals with serious mental illnesses: assessing the evidence. Psychiatr Serv. 2014;65(4):429–41. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Asad S. The role of peer support providers in inter-professional mental health care teams. Ottawa: Health Systems: Tefler School of Management, University of Ottawa; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Foglesong D, Knowles K, Cronise R, Wolf J, Edwards JP. National Practice Guidelines for peer support specialists and supervisors. Psychiatr Serv. 2022;73(2):215–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cyr C, Mckee H, O’Hagan M, Priest R. Making the case for peer support. Ottawa: Mental Health Commission of Canada; 2016. 2007–16

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mead S, Hilton D, Curtis L. Peer support: a theoretical perspective. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2001;25(2):134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mead S, MacNeil C. Peer support: what makes it unique. Int J Psychosoc Rehabil. 2006;10(2):29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fisher EB, Ballesteros J, Bhushan N, Coufal MM, Kowitt SD, McDonough AM, et al. Key features of peer support in chronic disease prevention and management. Health Aff. 2015;34(9):1523–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Evans M, Daaleman TP, Fisher EB. Peer support for chronic medical conditions. In: Avery J, editor. Peer support in medicine: a quick guide. New York: Springer; 2021. p. 49–70.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Fisher EB, Boothroyd RI, Coufal MM, Baumann LC, Mbanya JC, Rotheram-Borus MJ, et al. Peer support for self-management of diabetes improved outcomes in international settings. Health Aff. 2012;31(1):130–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Fisher EB, Earp JA, Maman S, Zolotor A. Cross-cultural and international adaptation of peer support for diabetes management. Fam Pract. 2009;27(suppl_1):i6–i16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Plett H. The art of holding space: a practice of love, liberation, and leadership. Vancouver: Page Two Books, Incorporated; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Aschbrenner KA, Naslund JA, Shevenell M, Kinney E, Bartels SJ. A pilot study of a peer-group lifestyle intervention enhanced with mHealth technology and social media for adults with serious mental illness. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016;204(6):483–6. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000530.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Young AS, Cohen AN, Goldberg R, Hellemann G, Kreyenbuhl J, Niv N, et al. Improving weight in people with serious mental illness: the effectiveness of computerized services with peer coaches. J Gen Intern Med. 2017;32(Suppl 1):48–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3963-0.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Kelly EL, Braslow JT, Brekke JS. Using electronic health records to enhance a peer health navigator intervention: a randomized pilot test for individuals with serious mental illness and housing instability. Community Ment Health J. 2018;54(8):1172–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-018-0282-4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Kelly E, Duan L, Cohen H, Kiger H, Pancake L, Brekke J. Integrating behavioral healthcare for individuals with serious mental illness: a randomized controlled trial of a peer health navigator intervention. Schizophr Res. 2017;182:135–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2016.10.031.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. V.A. Office of Research and Development. Peer support for exercise in older veterans with psychotic disorders. https://ClinicalTrials.gov/show/NCT02958007 (2021). Accessed 27 May 2020.

  19. Penney D. Defining “peer support”: implications for policy, practice, and research. 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mirbahaeddin E, Chreim S. A narrative review of factors influencing peer support role implementation in mental health systems: implications for research, policy and practice. Adm Policy Ment Health Ment Health Serv Res. 2022;49:1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mutschler C, Bellamy C, Davidson L, Lichtenstein S, Kidd S. Implementation of peer support in mental health services: a systematic review of the literature. Psychol Serv. 2022;19(2):360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ibrahim N, Thompson D, Nixdorf R, Kalha J, Mpango R, Moran G, et al. A systematic review of influences on implementation of peer support work for adults with mental health problems. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2020;55(3):285–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Glasgow RE, Funnell MM, Bonomi AE, Davis C, Beckham V, Wagner EH. Self-management aspects of the improving chronic illness care breakthrough series: implementation with diabetes and heart failure teams. Ann Behav Med. 2002;24(2):80–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Pawson R, Greenhalgh T, Harvey G, Walshe K. Realist review-a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2005;10(1_suppl):21–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ragin CC. Using qualitative comparative analysis to study causal complexity. Health Serv Res. 1999;34(5 Pt 2):1225.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Powers MA, Bardsley J, Cypress M, Duker P, Funnell MM, Hess Fischl A, et al. Diabetes self-management education and support in type 2 diabetes: a joint position statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(7):1372–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kidd SA, Mutschler C, Lichtenstein S, Yan S, Virdee G, Blair F, et al. Randomized trial of a brief peer support intervention for individuals with schizophrenia transitioning from hospital to community. Schizophr Res. 2021;231:214–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Chinman MJ, Weingarten R, Stayner D, Davidson L. Chronicity reconsidered: improving person-environment fit through a consumer-run service. Community Ment Health J. 2001;37(3):215–29. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017577029956.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Weingarten R, Chinman M, Tworkowski S, Stayner D, Davidson L. The welcome basket project: consumers reaching out to consumers. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2000;24(1):65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Gillard S, Bremner S, Patel A, Goldsmith L, Marks J, Foster R, et al. Peer support for discharge from inpatient mental health care versus care as usual in England (ENRICH): a parallel, two-group, individually randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2022;9(2):125–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Stratford AC, Halpin M, Phillips K, Skerritt F, Beales A, Cheng V, et al. The growth of peer support: an international charter. J Ment Health. 2017:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2017.1340593.

  32. Repper J, Aldridge B, Gilfoyle S, Gillard S, Perkins R, Rennison J. Peer support workers: theory and practice. University Park: Citeseer; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kowitt S, Yu S, Owens AK, Carey LA, Fisher EB. Social support needs among patients with advanced breast cancer: sensitivity trumps substance. J Commun Supportive Oncol. 2016;14(12):509–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Fisher E, Bickle C, Harber K, Hughes C, Jeffe D, Kahl L, et al. Benefits of directive and nondirective support are moderated by severity of circumstances. Annual meeting of Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gabriele JM, Carpenter BD, Tate DF, Fisher EB. Directive and nondirective e-coach support for weight loss in overweight adults. Ann Behav Med. 2010;41(2):252–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Evans M, Fisher EB. Social isolation and mental health: the role of nondirective and directive social support. Community Ment Health J. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00787-9.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Megan Evans

Authors
  1. Megan Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Evans, M. (2023). Summary, Implications, and Future Directions. In: Peer Support Services Reaching People with Schizophrenia. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29042-8_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation