Roles and Work Content of Peer Workers and Experts by Experience in Mental Health Practice, Education, Research and Development - Results of a Survey in Switzerland

Abstract

To identify work contents, roles and tasks of peer workers in mental health services in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. A survey was conducted among peers in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Most respondents stated that they work mainly in specialized services in the treatment of people with psychoses and affective disorders and in direct contact with service users. "Building bridges" between service users and professionals, conveying hope and confidence, empowerment as well as support in symptom management was most frequently indicated as a work activity. The majority of respondents have job descriptions that correspond to their activities. For mental health services, the challenge is to integrate the new professional group of peers workers as well as possible without undermining their proximity to the service users or their possibly critical perspective with regard to the existing practice.