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Consumer Empowerment and Self-Advocacy Outcomes in a Randomized Study of Peer-Led Education

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Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of the Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals (BRIDGES) peer-led education intervention in empowering mental health consumers to become better advocates for their own care. A total of 428 adults with mental illness were randomly assigned to BRIDGES (intervention condition) or a services as usual wait list (control condition). Interviews were conducted at enrollment, at the end of the intervention, and 6-months post-intervention. Random regression results indicate that, compared to controls, BRIDGES participants experienced significant increases in overall empowerment, empowerment-self-esteem, and self-advocacy-assertiveness, and maintained these improved outcomes over time. Peer-led education interventions may provide participants with the information, skills and support they need to become more actively involved in the treatment decision-making process.

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Acknowledgments

Funded by the US Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, under Cooperative Agreement H133B05003B. The views expressed in this manuscript do not reflect the policy or position of any Federal agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Susan A. Pickett, Pamela J. Steigman, Patricia Shipley, Dennis D. Grey & Judith A. Cook

  2. National Alliance on Mental Illness, Arlington, VA, USA

    Sita M. Diehl

  3. Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association, Nashville, TN, USA

    Joy D. Prater & Anthony Fox

Authors
  1. Susan A. Pickett
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  2. Sita M. Diehl
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  3. Pamela J. Steigman
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  4. Joy D. Prater
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  5. Anthony Fox
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  6. Patricia Shipley
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  7. Dennis D. Grey
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  8. Judith A. Cook
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Correspondence to Susan A. Pickett.

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Pickett, S.A., Diehl, S.M., Steigman, P.J. et al. Consumer Empowerment and Self-Advocacy Outcomes in a Randomized Study of Peer-Led Education. Community Ment Health J 48, 420–430 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9507-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9507-0

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