scholarly journals The feasibility and acceptability of a peer-support group for mental health in Filipino prisons

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S281-S281
Author(s):  
Bethany Platford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
Ethical Approval

AimsTo assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing and facilitating a peer-support group for mental health in Filipino prisons.ObjectivesTo identify the logistical issues faced in implementing and facilitating healthcare in Filipino PrisonsTo explore attitudes of potential participants towards the implementation of a peer-support group for mental health in the prisonsTo provide logical recommendations from my findings to inform future mental health support for prisoners in the PhilippinesMethodEthical approval was granted by the University of Leeds prior to data collection. In-country ethical approval was granted through my host Dr Rachael Pickering. Data collection occurred through observations and semi-structured interviews. Participants recruited included six secure-environment healthcare workers, eight prisoners and six ex-prisoners. Both prisoners and ex-prisoners were identified through gatekeepers and informed consent was gained. Interviews were transcribed before coding and themes identified.ResultFeasibility: Bureaucracy and corruption were the main barriers to the potential successful implementation of a peer-support group, which were emergent themes. Space, time and staff were all themes identified that may help facilitate the group.Attitudes: It was noted that there is a significant lack of knowledge surrounding what mental health is and its causes. Stigma and discriminatory actions were also noted by many participants as barrier to the group. However, seven prisoners and five ex-prisoners said they would join.ConclusionThe findings highlighted many barriers but with perservance and local cultural competence this peer-support group could be feasible and be accepted in Filipino prisons. It will be reducing a high unmet need for mental health services in these prisons and if ran successfully with positive effects, will be an example for other prisons across the Philippines and other low-middle income countries.

scholarly journals Correlation between knowledge of WLHA about PMTCT with motivation planning pregnancy in peer support group at Bandung City

2019 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Kusila Devia Rahayu ◽  
Yanti Herawati ◽  
Gina N Padilah
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Mother To Child ◽  
Hiv Aids

The increasing number of pregnancies of women living with HIV/ AIDS (WLHA) and the number of children living with HIV/AIDS as a result of being infected from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding made researchers feel the need to conduct this study. This study aims to determine the relationship between the knowledge of WLHA about Preventions Mother to Child Transmition (PMTCT)  with the motivation to plan pregnancy in peer support groups in Bandung. This quantitative study was designed using a cross sectional approach to 80 respondents. Data collection was carried out using a knowledge questionnaire about PMTCT and a child bearing questionnaire which was translated. Both instruments passed the validity and reliability tests before use. Data collection was carried out using purposive sampling method. The research data were analyzed using Chi-Square test. The results showed that 82.5% of respondents have good PMTCT knowledge and 61.3% of respondents have low motivation to plan pregnancy. The results of the bivariate analysis showed  p-value 0.03 (P<0.05). This indicated that the knowledge of WLHA about PMTCT was significantly related to the motivation to plan pregnancy in the Peer Support Group in Bandung City. Health workers need to improve their ability to collaborate with peer support groups as a means of providing education so that WLHA knowledge about PMTCT can be increased so that the number of WLHA pregnancies and the number of children with HIV/AIDS does not increase.

Using peer support to strengthen mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Suresh ◽  
Armaghan Alam ◽  
Zoe Karkossa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Mental Health Resource ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Anxiety Depression

BACKGROUND The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on society’s overall mental health with a notable effect on healthcare providers. To manage this global crisis, governments have had to implement numerous measures such mandated lockdowns and physical distancing to minimize the risk of overloading healthcare systems. Altogether, these measures have contributed to higher levels of anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other metrics indicating worsening mental health. Unfortunately, the availability of crucial mental health resources and support remains scarce during this time as services attempt to transition to an effective online delivery model. Peer support, which is peer-to-peer provided social and emotional support, is an underutilized and effective mental health resource that is easily delivered/accessed in-person by members within a social distancing bubble, or virtually across different bubbles. OBJECTIVE This review aims to summarize the toll that this pandemic has had on society’s mental health as found in peer-reviewed literature from October 2019 to March 2021, as well as suggest the utility of peer support to address these needs. Lastly, we provide strategies to effectively deliver peer support so that members of the community can better support one another during these unprecedented times. METHODS References for this review were chosen through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles published between October 2019 and March 2021 that used the terms: “coronavirus”, “COVID-19”, “mental health”, “anxiety”, “depression”, “isolation”, “mental health resources”, “peer support”, “online mental health resources”, and “healthcare workers”. Articles resulting from these searches and relevant references cited in those articles were reviewed. Articles published in English, French and Italian were included. RESULTS As stated in peer-reviewed literature, this pandemic has ubiquitously worsened the mental health of populations across the world, which is further exacerbated by extended periods of lockdown. Peer support has been demonstrated to yield positive effects on the mental health of a wide variety of recipients, and it can be provided through numerous accessible mediums such as web/mobile applications, video-conferencing software, workshops, telephone services, and student programs. CONCLUSIONS The provision of peer support can be very beneficial for improving mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and may be an effective tool should similar events arise in the future. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Genderdysforie en ASS

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Brandsma ◽  
Kirsten Visser
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Gender Variance ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender Presentation ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

There is a growing interest in the co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD). Research has shown that people with ASD show more gender variance than people without ASD. Due to the difficulties associated with ASD (limited social skills, problems in information processing and difficulty with change), regular GD treatment does not seem to be adequately equipped for this specific group. In this study we want to gain insight into the clinical needs of adolescents with ASD and GD and their parents. We are conducting a pilot study to the effects of a specific peer support group for adolescents with ASD and GD on quality of life. A pre-posttest design is used. Prior to the start of the support group, during each meeting and at the end of the support group, the adolescents fill out several short questionnaires. The ASD and Gender support group consists of nine monthly meetings for the adolescents, covering topics such as autism and gender-related needs, psychoeducation on medical interventions, environmental factors, gender expression and practicing gender presentation skills. Simultaneously, parents can follow the parent meetings. Currently, three rounds of the peer support group have started (each round with about 10-12 adolescents).

scholarly journals Peer support for adolescent girls living with scoliosis: finding a digital community

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Marie Vigouroux ◽  
Kristina Amja ◽  
Richard B. Hovey
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Philosophical Hermeneutic ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Digital Community ◽  
The Individual

Introduction : Scoliosis in a condition where a curve develops in the spine. Adolescent girls affected by scoliosis are significantly more likely to require treatment such as bracing or surgery than their male counterparts. Curvy Girls is a peer support group for adolescent girls with scoliosis that allows them to engage with each other in a safe environment. Objectives : This study endeavours to explore the experiences of adolescent girls living with scoliosis who are Curvy Girls members and understand how this peer support group has affected their experience. Approach : Sixteen participants were recruited through a senior board member of Curvy Girls. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an applied philosophical hermeneutic approach, a practice of uncovering insights from transformational conversation. Findings : We found that the participants’ sense of belonging to Curvy Girls did not depend on their level of involvement with the group. Whether they were leaders in their in-person local group, or simply following the organization on social media, seeing themselves represented allowed the participants to feel like they belonged to the group. Future Directions : These findings may help clinicians, healthcare professionals, and peer support organisations deepen their understanding of the perspectives of this specific population. This transformed understanding could lead to the instauration of care and services that are better adapted to this population’s needs, resulting in lessening the burden of the condition on the individual and their support system.  

Leveraging Facebook as a Peer-Support Group for Students

2014 ◽  
pp. 195-212
Author(s):  
Joni Salminen
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Technology Barriers ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Teacher Needs ◽  
User Friendly

This chapter reports the use of Facebook in a Digital Marketing course in a Finnish university as a peer-support group for a course consisting of 80 marketing students. It identifies seven types of student-/teacher-generated content: (1) course-related posts, (2) substance-related posts, (3) course feedback, (4) course recommendations, (5) event posts, (6) job posts, and (7) business-related posts. It also discusses educators’ problems of using social media as a course support. For example, there is a risk of artificial communication if participation is required but motivation for posting is purely extrinsic. Commercial social networks may be useful in education because they are user-friendly, easy to adopt, and involve less friction than systems isolated from students’ day-to-day usage of the Internet. Peer support frees teachers’ time, but it needs to be devised correctly for students to participate. In practice, the teacher needs to invest time and effort in providing interesting content and guidance. More than technology, barriers of peer support relate to social issues and expertise – the students must differ in their substantive knowledge so that peer support is possible, and students must feel comfortable to ask for and provide help. Interestingly, the drop out of students in the group can be kept low even after the course by posting interesting content. In this sense, the group may demonstrate stronger ties than peer support groups that dissolve after the course.

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