“Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”

Background The use of peer support workers to support suicidal adolescents is underdeveloped. This study focuses on the effects of a one-year intervention with peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent residing in a secure residential youth care facility in the Netherlands. Moreover,...

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Main Authors: Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe, Karin S. Nijhof, Helen Klip, Arne Popma, Ron H. J. Scholte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2409514
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author Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe
Karin S. Nijhof
Helen Klip
Arne Popma
Ron H. J. Scholte
author_facet Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe
Karin S. Nijhof
Helen Klip
Arne Popma
Ron H. J. Scholte
author_sort Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe
collection DOAJ
description Background The use of peer support workers to support suicidal adolescents is underdeveloped. This study focuses on the effects of a one-year intervention with peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent residing in a secure residential youth care facility in the Netherlands. Moreover, we explore the mechanisms that underpin the role of peer support workers in detail. Method This study employed a single case study design. We conducted seven semi-structured interviews with staff, peer support workers, and a chronically suicidal adolescent. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis. Results The results indicate that the suicidal tendencies of the adolescent decreased significantly one year after the peer support intervention compared to the initial baseline. Working mechanisms that underpinned the peer support intervention emphasized building meaningful and trust-based relationships, providing recognition and hope, and practical support from a recovery-oriented perspective. Conclusion The results suggest that peer support has a beneficial impact on the adolescent and treatment teams. Peer support workers contribute to a sense of belonging and connection, coping with suicidality, rediscovering life goals, and improving adolescent self-management. Barriers and facilitators to implementing peer support workers are also discussed.
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issn 1748-2623
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
spelling doaj-art-3677f3d1981c41688a0e22fbd4fd75f62025-08-20T02:50:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.24095142409514“Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe0Karin S. Nijhof1Helen Klip2Arne Popma3Ron H. J. Scholte4Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University CentreRadboud University NijmegenKarakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University CentreAmsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamRadboud University NijmegenBackground The use of peer support workers to support suicidal adolescents is underdeveloped. This study focuses on the effects of a one-year intervention with peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent residing in a secure residential youth care facility in the Netherlands. Moreover, we explore the mechanisms that underpin the role of peer support workers in detail. Method This study employed a single case study design. We conducted seven semi-structured interviews with staff, peer support workers, and a chronically suicidal adolescent. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis. Results The results indicate that the suicidal tendencies of the adolescent decreased significantly one year after the peer support intervention compared to the initial baseline. Working mechanisms that underpinned the peer support intervention emphasized building meaningful and trust-based relationships, providing recognition and hope, and practical support from a recovery-oriented perspective. Conclusion The results suggest that peer support has a beneficial impact on the adolescent and treatment teams. Peer support workers contribute to a sense of belonging and connection, coping with suicidality, rediscovering life goals, and improving adolescent self-management. Barriers and facilitators to implementing peer support workers are also discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2409514suicidal adolescentssecure residential youth carepeer support workersqualitative single case designrecovery oriented intervention
spellingShingle Shireen P. T. Kaijadoe
Karin S. Nijhof
Helen Klip
Arne Popma
Ron H. J. Scholte
“Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
suicidal adolescents
secure residential youth care
peer support workers
qualitative single case design
recovery oriented intervention
title “Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
title_full “Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
title_fullStr “Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
title_full_unstemmed “Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
title_short “Surviving against the odds. The impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care: a single case report from the Netherlands”
title_sort surviving against the odds the impact of peer support workers on a chronically suicidal adolescent in secure residential youth care a single case report from the netherlands
topic suicidal adolescents
secure residential youth care
peer support workers
qualitative single case design
recovery oriented intervention
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2409514
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