A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme
ABSTRACT Introduction Peer supporters play a crucial role in mental health and support services, but their own mental health and emotional well‐being are often neglected by themselves, and, frequently, their organisations. Here, we report findings from a qualitative interview study of peer supporter...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Health Expectations |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70084 |
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| author | Laura Kane Lauren Walker Judith Eberhardt Robert M. Portman Emma‐Lily Proctor Hannah Poulter Catherine O'Neill |
| author_facet | Laura Kane Lauren Walker Judith Eberhardt Robert M. Portman Emma‐Lily Proctor Hannah Poulter Catherine O'Neill |
| author_sort | Laura Kane |
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| description | ABSTRACT Introduction Peer supporters play a crucial role in mental health and support services, but their own mental health and emotional well‐being are often neglected by themselves, and, frequently, their organisations. Here, we report findings from a qualitative interview study of peer supporters who completed a co‐produced emotional well‐being training programme. Method Ten semi‐structured interviews with peer supporters working in the North East of England were conducted to explore their experiences of the training programme. Results Thematic analysis of the data produced three overarching themes. In Theme 1, ‘Increasing psychological preparedness and identifying self‐care and coping strategies’, we found that peer supporters improved their knowledge of how to manage sensitive topics such as aggression and suicide and felt more confident in their peer support roles resultantly. In Theme 2, ‘It's good to know you're not alone’, peer supporters discussed their experience of loneliness in their roles, and as a consequence realised their own need for peer support to help maintain their well‐being. Theme 3, ‘Toward the future: next steps’, encapsulated peer supporters' willingness to continue their role development and to create a peer support network to continue to obtain mutual support. Conclusion Our findings emphasise the perceived emotional well‐being benefits of a co‐produced peer supporter training programme. Participants highlighted the need for co‐produced training programmes that are (1) emotion‐focussed, (2) provide access to other peer supporters and (3) provide future avenues for a peer supporter network of mutual support and professional development activities and training opportunities. Patient or Public Contribution Individuals with lived experience of mental ill health and peer support were consulted in the development of interview questions and provided feedback on the finalised themes to ensure the analysis and interpretations were congruent with their experiences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6b0bcbea89049998835d3bedc9c084e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1369-6513 1369-7625 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Expectations |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6b0bcbea89049998835d3bedc9c084e2025-08-20T02:04:15ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252024-12-01276n/an/a10.1111/hex.70084A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training ProgrammeLaura Kane0Lauren Walker1Judith Eberhardt2Robert M. Portman3Emma‐Lily Proctor4Hannah Poulter5Catherine O'Neill6Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law Teesside University Middlesbrough UKABSTRACT Introduction Peer supporters play a crucial role in mental health and support services, but their own mental health and emotional well‐being are often neglected by themselves, and, frequently, their organisations. Here, we report findings from a qualitative interview study of peer supporters who completed a co‐produced emotional well‐being training programme. Method Ten semi‐structured interviews with peer supporters working in the North East of England were conducted to explore their experiences of the training programme. Results Thematic analysis of the data produced three overarching themes. In Theme 1, ‘Increasing psychological preparedness and identifying self‐care and coping strategies’, we found that peer supporters improved their knowledge of how to manage sensitive topics such as aggression and suicide and felt more confident in their peer support roles resultantly. In Theme 2, ‘It's good to know you're not alone’, peer supporters discussed their experience of loneliness in their roles, and as a consequence realised their own need for peer support to help maintain their well‐being. Theme 3, ‘Toward the future: next steps’, encapsulated peer supporters' willingness to continue their role development and to create a peer support network to continue to obtain mutual support. Conclusion Our findings emphasise the perceived emotional well‐being benefits of a co‐produced peer supporter training programme. Participants highlighted the need for co‐produced training programmes that are (1) emotion‐focussed, (2) provide access to other peer supporters and (3) provide future avenues for a peer supporter network of mutual support and professional development activities and training opportunities. Patient or Public Contribution Individuals with lived experience of mental ill health and peer support were consulted in the development of interview questions and provided feedback on the finalised themes to ensure the analysis and interpretations were congruent with their experiences.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70084co‐produced trainingemotional well‐beingpeer supportpeer support training programmesrecoverysocial support network |
| spellingShingle | Laura Kane Lauren Walker Judith Eberhardt Robert M. Portman Emma‐Lily Proctor Hannah Poulter Catherine O'Neill A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme Health Expectations co‐produced training emotional well‐being peer support peer support training programmes recovery social support network |
| title | A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme |
| title_full | A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme |
| title_fullStr | A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme |
| title_short | A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters' Experiences of Undertaking a Co‐Produced Mental Health and Emotional Well‐Being Training Programme |
| title_sort | qualitative exploration of peer supporters experiences of undertaking a co produced mental health and emotional well being training programme |
| topic | co‐produced training emotional well‐being peer support peer support training programmes recovery social support network |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70084 |
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