Peer Support
Peer Support Research
Peer support services have been found to serve as an effective part of mental health care by a number of researchers (Davidson et. al., 2003; Felton, et. al, 1995; Mead & MacNeil, 2006). Peer support has also been identified as one of the Ten Fundamental Components of Recovery developed by the Center for Mental Health Services (SAMHSA, 2004).
Early research of drop-in centers found that participants experienced an increased quality of life as well as enhanced social support and problem solving (Mowbray and Tan, 1993). Mental health self-help groups, an integral part of Tennessee’s Peer Support Center programs, have been shown to decrease symptoms, increase coping skills, and increase life satisfaction (Davidson et al, 1999; Chamberlin et al, 1996, Humphreys, 1997; Raiff, 1984). Peer specialists have been proven successful in engaging people who have serious mental illness into treatment (Sells et al, 2006; Solomon, 2004). Tennessee’s Peer Support Centers are staff by trained peer specialists.
One-to-one peer support with people who have co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance use was found to result in fewer hospitalizations, improved social functioning, reduced substance use and improved quality of life among participants (Klein, Cnaan, and Whitecraft, 1998). Research has also shown that peer support plays a part in reducing the overall need for mental health services over time (Chinman et al, 2001; Klein, Cnaan, and Whitecraft, 1998; Simpson and House, 2002).
Chinman, M.J., Weingarten, R., Stayner, D., and Davidson, L. (2001) Chronicity reconsidered: Improving person-environment fit through a consumer run service. Community Mental Health Journal. 37 (3) 215-229.
Davidson, L., Chinman, M., Kloos, B., Weingarten, R., Stayner, D., & Tebes, J.K. (1999). Peer support among individuals with severe mental illness: A review of the evidence. Clinical Psychology: Science and practice, 6, 165-187.
Felton, C.J., Stastny, P., Shern, D.L., Blanch, A., Donahue, S., Knight, E., & Brown, C. (1995). Consumers as peer specialists on intensive case management teams: Impact on client outcomes. Psychiatric Services, 46(10), 1037-1044.
Humphreys, K. (1997). Individual and social benefits of mutual-aid self-help groups. Social Policy, 27, 13-19.
Klein, A. R., Cnaan, R.A., & Whitecraft, J. (1998). Significance of peer social support with dually diagnosed clients: Findings from a pilot study. Research on Social Work Practice, 8, 529-551.
Mead, S. & MacNeil, C. (2006). Peer support: What makes it unique? International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 10 (2), 29-37.
Mowbray, C.T., and Tan, C. (1993). Consumer-operated drop-in centers run by and for psychiatric consumers: Evaluation of operations and impact, Journal of Mental Health Administration, 20, 8-19.
Pfeiffer, P.N., Heisler, M., Piette, J.D., Rogers, M.A.M., and Valenstein, M. (2010). Efficacy of peer support, interventions for depression: a meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry. Click here for news report of this article.
Raiff, N.R. (1984). Some health related outcomes of self-help participation: Recovery, Inc. as a case example of a self-help organization in mental health. In A. Gartner & F. Riessman (Eds.), The self-help revolution (pp. 183-193). New York: Human Sciences Press.
Sells, D., Davidson, L., Jewell, C., Falzer, P., & Rowe, M. (2006). The treatment relationship in peer-based and regular case management services for clients
with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 57(8): 1179-1184.
Sherman, P.S., & Porter, R. (1991). Mental health consumers as case management aides. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 42:494-498.
Simpson, E. L. and House, A.O. (2002) Involving users in the delivery and evaluation of mental health services: systematic review. British Medical Journal. 325, 1-5.
Solomon, P.S. (2004). Peer support/peer provided services: Underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 27(4): 392-401.
