Lean on me: the potential for peer support in a non-government Australian mental health service

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for integrating peer support in mental health. After reviewing the contemporary literature, it considers how the findings of a recent qualitative case study, which examined the perspectives of mental health service users (n =  11) on service-user participation and evidence-based practice, might inform the introduction of a peer support program into a mental health service provided by a large Australian non-government organisation. While there is little empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of peer support, the study revealed that service users valued the expertise of their peers and offered guidance for translating evidence into service models.

Keywords::

• peer support
• mental health
• service users
• participation
• evidence-based practice

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kate Davies

Kate Davies (PhD) completed her PhD on ‘Service-user perspectives on evidence: Shaping participatory mental health and homelessness services’ through the Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle. She has worked extensively in social policy, welfare and community development roles in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Kate's recent research work has analysed the relationship between social justice, evidence-based practice and service-user participation.

Mel Gray

Mel Gray (PhD) is Professor of Social Work in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle in Australia. Mel has an extensive, highly acclaimed research and publication profile focused on the relationship between social work ethics, theory, research, policy, and practice. She recently edited the Sage Handbook of Social Work (with Midgley & Webb 2012), New Politics of Social Work (with Webb, Palgrave 2013), Environmental Social Work (with Coates & Hetherington, Routledge 2013), Decolonizing Social Work (with Coates, Yellow Bird & Hetherington, Ashgate 2013) and is Book Review Editor for the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Social Development.

Luke Butcher

Luke Butcher completed undergraduate qualifications in psychology through the University of Newcastle. For the past six years, Luke has been employed with Mission Australia delivering mental health recovery, family and youth justice services in rural and remote communities across New South Wales. Luke's professional and research interests include service-user involvement in the human services and collaborative service provision models in rural and remote areas.