Peer support in community settings: getting back to our roots

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Crepaz-Keay

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look at peer support in the context of broader communities. Design/methodology/approach It builds on the author’s experience working with the Mental Health Foundation of developing delivering and evaluating several self-management and peer support initiatives in a variety of settings with a range of different peer groups. It will consider what constitutes a peer and a community, and explore the notion of community solutions for community problems. Findings Peer support in community settings has the capacity to address social isolation, build skills and self-esteem and give individuals a better quality of life – it can also add value to whole communities and reframe the way entire groups are considered within them. It has the ability to be both more accessible and less stigmatising and thus reach more people. This also offers community based peer support as a contributor to preventing the deterioration of mental health and potentially reducing the impact of mental ill-health. Social implications The author needs to think more in terms of whole community and get better at improving how the author measures and articulates this community benefit. This will allow us to make better decisions about how best to apply resources for long term whole community gain. Peer support and peer leadership needs to be at the heart of this process. Originality/value This paper places a familiar approach in a different setting placing peer support firmly outside services and within comunities.

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirella Ruggeri

SUMMARYClosing the gap between research and clinical practice is nowadays considered a priority in outcome studies. Survey studies in community settings having as their main aim the multidimensional measure of outcome of mental health care interventions, including the use of standardised instruments administered as part of the routine clinical activities in mental health services, have recently started to be planned in various countries, but have encountered several difficulties. A naturalistic, longitudinal study aimed to assess the outcome of care provided by a community-based mental health service, the South Verona Outcome Project, has been conducted in Italy starting from the beginning of the 90's and is running since then. This paper: a) describes a series of methodological aspects of the South Verona Outcome Project, such as instruments, study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria, training of the staff, and focuses on strategies used so to ensure feasibility of the assessment and good quality of the data; b) summarises some results of the study, characteristics of feed-back provided, and outputs; c) discusses the problems faced, the impact of this approach on service provision, its limitations and future perspectives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140
Author(s):  
Steven D Brown ◽  
Paula Reavey

The impact of social and material conditions on mental health is well established but lacking in a coherent approach. We offer the concept of ‘vitality’ as means of describing how environments facilitate ‘feelings of being alive’ that cut across existing diagnostic categories. Drawing on the work of Stern, Fuchs, Worms and Duff, we argue that vitality is not solely a quality of an individual body, but rather emerges from attunements and resonances between bodies and materials. We use vitality as a lens to explore how movements within and between assembled sets of relations can facilitate or disable feelings and expressions of being alive. Building on extended discussions of both inpatient and community-based mental healthcare, we sketch out a research agenda for analysing ‘vital spaces’.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bertram ◽  
Sarah McDonald

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore what helped seven people in contact with secondary mental health services achieve their vocational goals, such as: employment, education, training and volunteering. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used the practice of co-operative inquiry – staff and peer supporters co-designed an evaluation of vocational and peer support work with service users. Findings – Service users experienced invalidating living conditions that caused serious distress. These life struggles included: isolation, trauma events and stigma. The impact involved distressing emotions such as: despair, fear, pain and confusion. In contrast, when service users experienced supportive validating conditions (trusting relationships, engaging in valued activity and peer support) they reported being able to learn, change and grow – finding their own way forward, to improve well-being and quality of life. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative analysis from in-depth interviews revealed a range of consistent themes that enabled the authors to visually represent these and “begin” developing a model of change – grounded in lived experience. Further research is required to develop this model. Originality/value – The development of a model of change grounded in an invalidation/validation framework offers a different approach – in terms of how people are perceived and treated. This has relevance for Government policy development, clinical commissioning groups and practitioners.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Jiska Cohen-Mansfield

Purpose The impact of COVID-19 has most dramatically affected the older population, and nursing homes have become infection hotspots. As a response, governments have ordered isolation of older adults in geriatric institutions owing to the high risk of critical illness and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential impact of current policies on nursing homes and community-based care and provide suggestions for improvement in care. Design/methodology/approach Taking the situation in Israel as an example, the author discussed major systemic problems pertaining to long-term care facilities and to community based care; the neglect of mental health; systemic deficiencies in end of life care; and the need to revise communications concerning COVID-19. Findings Within each of the identified areas, recommended changes in strategy, policy and practice can help mitigate the dramatic impact of COVID-19 on the living experience of the older population. Originality/value Drawing on the Israeli experience, this paper presents current shortcomings in the policy response to COVID-19 regarding nursing homes and community-based care and provides recommendations that are applicable to other contexts as well. Although some of these have been suggested or even practiced in some locations, many continue to be neglected and have not been discussed even as COVID-19 continues to infect societies around the globe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 151-167
Author(s):  
Raffaella Margherita Milani ◽  
Keisha Nahar ◽  
Daniel Ware ◽  
Alan Butler ◽  
Sean Roush ◽  
...  

Purpose Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) is a peer-led programme developed in the USA, which aims to address mental and addictive disorders in an integrated manner. This study is part of a mixed-methods evaluation of the first DDA pilot in the UK, and the purpose of this study is to explore the impact and mechanism of change of the programme through the perspective of DDA attendees, facilitators and the funding commissioners. Design/methodology/approach Six DDA members were interviewed three times over a period of 12 months, the facilitators were interviewed twice and the commissioner was interviewed once. The qualitative longitudinal data were analysed using a trajectory thematic analysis. Findings DDA attendance was perceived to have had a positive impact on five main areas: acceptance of self, of others and from others; social functioning; self-development; recovery progression; and feeling of hope. The possibility of addressing both mental health and addiction at the same time was a key factor in the recovery process. The facilitators observed that DDA had contributed to integrate members into employment and education, while the commissioner stressed the importance of joint commissioning and sustainability. Originality/value The longitudinal approach provided a unique insight into the recovery process of DDA members. Being able to address the mental health as well as the substance use problems was considered to be a fundamental strength of DDA in comparison to the single purpose peer-support fellowships.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 584-584
Author(s):  
M. Stinga ◽  
E. Moti ◽  
E. Papageorgiou ◽  
T. Ioannou ◽  
V. Paraskevopoulou ◽  
...  

IntroductionIn the context of psychiatric reformation, the long-term mentally ill have moved from institutionalized care to outpatient-based mental health services and community-based rehabilitation settings.ObjectiveQuality of Life (QoL) constitutes a critical outcome of mental health programs and services and is a multidimensional subjective construct.AimExploring the perceived QoL of long-term psychiatric residents and, identifying possible associations between sociodemographic variables, psychiatric history, cognitive function (MMSE), physical comorbidity and type of residential care.Method104 patients residing for over six months, to community based rehabilitation settings subjected to the PHPO (5 sheltered apartments, 7 hostels, 2 boarding houses) were encountered. QoL of participants was assessed using the self-fulfilling, 36 item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) at a given point of time.ResultsThe majority of the residents expressed good levels of satisfaction in all subscales of the SF-36, with mean values of Physical Component Summary (PCS): 34.90 ± 13.92 (range: 0–50) and Mental Component Summary (MCS): 67.89 ± 20.09 (range: 25-100). Statistical significant differences were recorded concerning the PCS and age (p = 0.000), MMSE scores (p = 0.000), educational level (p = 0.017), marital status (p = 0.049) and type of residential home (p = 0.012). MCS was statistically significant associated with age (p = 0.032), MMSE scores (p = 0.007), socioeconomic status (p = 0.008) and type of residential home, too (p = 0.040). No differences were found concerning psychiatric diagnosis or physical comorbidity.ConclusionsCommunity care models provide subjective positive life satisfactions to the majority of the chronically mentally ill. Thus, besides the care giver's management, independent variables play an important role to perceived QoL.


Significance While the pandemic has both amplified and illuminated areas of racial, gender and economic inequality, it has also overshadowed a range of worsening societal problems that had already reached crisis levels prior to COVID-19. Impacts Surging firearm sales during the pandemic and changing perceptions of policing will have long-term impacts on violence levels. The impact of the pandemic has reversed some recent success in containing the opioid epidemic and flattening suicide rates. Mental health services are at risk of cuts as they have lower reimbursement rates for providers than other healthcare provisions.


2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 748-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Hickie ◽  
David Burke ◽  
Margaret Tobin ◽  
Carolyn Mutch

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the organisation of mental health services on the quality of medical and psychiatric assessment provided to patients with depression over 50 years of age. Method: A retrospective clinical audit of 99 patients with primary depressive disorders who were over 50 years of age was used. These patients were assessed initially by specialised psychogeriatric outpatient and community services (44%), community-based adult mental health services (35%) or an inpatient service (21%). At 2–3 years follow up, clinical outcomes were rated by treating physicians and included current depression status, cognitive and medical status, course of illness since initial assessment and current living circumstances. Results: Patients who were assessed by the community-based adult mental health service received the least comprehensive assessment. Although these patients were more likely to be living independently, they tended to have the poorest depression outcome. Patients who were assessed by the specialised or inpatient services received more comprehensive initial assessment and better coordinated long-term care. Although these patients had more medical and cognitive comorbidity they had better overall depression outcomes. Conclusions: Within a service system that determines access according to an arbitrary age of onset, patients with depression receive the best assessment from specialised psychogeriatric services. However, patients with an early age of onset, more chronic disorders and poor outcomes are treated largely within community-based adult services. Psychiatric services need to ensure that all older patients with depression receive appropriate biomedical and psychosocial assessment, as well as continuity of medical and psychological treatment.


Subject Shortcomings in Brazilian infrastructure. Significance The quality of Brazil’s infrastructure is a key business complaint. Infrastructure is viewed as central to boosting the country’s long-term competitiveness, as well as a potential motor of recovery from the economic crisis. However, infrastructure investment remains low. This is due in part to the budgetary restrictions faced by the government, but also to the impact of corruption scandals on leading construction companies. Impacts Better roads, railways and ports will be central to boosting Brazil's exports, notably of primary commodities. Poor infrastructure will continue to affect both business and the daily life of ordinary citizens, particularly in remote regions. The execution of infrastructure investments could produce positive and long-lasting effects on the overall economy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachappa Shette ◽  
Sudershan Kuntluru ◽  
Sunder Ram Korivi

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of initial public offerings (IPO)-year opportunistic earnings management on long-term market and earnings performance. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 150 book-built IPOs over 2001-2006 are analysed based on industry adjusted return on sales and industry adjusted return on assets for six post-IPO years. The quality of earnings is measured in two ways using discretionary accruals and Beneish manipulation score. Modified Jones model is used to estimate the expected accruals and to compute the discretionary accruals for each IPO firm year. Regression model is used to examine the impact of IPO-year quality of earnings on future earnings performance. Findings The paper finds that earnings and market performance of IPO companies are abnormally higher in the IPO-year, as compared to the post-IPO years. Similarly, the quality of earnings during the IPO-year is lower than those in the post-IPO years. The results also show that the opportunistic earnings management in IPO-year has significant negative impact on the long-term adjusted earnings and market performance. Research limitations/implications The present study is confined to the period from 2001 to 2006 for the purpose of post-IPO analysis for a period of six post-IPO years. Thus, the conclusions of this study are to be viewed with this limitation. Originality/value This paper is the first study based on the Indian context to examine the relationship between the quality of earnings of the IPO firm and long-term earnings and market performance.


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