Abstract
We examine whether the availability of peer support reduces disparities in service use among minority youth ages 16–24 with serious mental illness in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. Administrative data from 2015–2018 was used to summarize service use among 13,363 transition age youth age 16–24 with serious mental illness who received services from 183 outpatient public mental health programs; 17.2% were Black, 67.4% were Latinx, and 15.4% were non-Latinx white. The availability of peer support was assessed via a program survey. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationship between availability of peer support, defined as having a peer specialist on staff, and the annual number of outpatient mental health visits. We also examined the relationship between racial/ethnic concordance of youth and peer specialists and use of outpatient services. Forty-six percent of youth received services from programs that employed peer specialists. Among youth in both counties, the availability of peer support was associated with an increase in annual outpatient visits (P ≤ .05 each). Peer support was associated with reductions in service use disparities among Black and Latinx youth in Los Angeles County (P < .001 each). Peer concordance was associated with an increase in outpatient service use among Latinx youth in both counties (P < .05 each). Peer support was associated with increases in use of outpatient mental health services. Detailed examination of the context for youth peer support implementation is merited to identify the specific pathways that improve outcomes.
Highlights
Health and social support services provided by peers have the potential to reduce disparities in outpatient service use among minority transition age youth with serious mental illness who remain underserved by the public mental health system (Alegria et al 2016)
With respect to reducing disparities, for example, research on adult peer navigation among adults with a range of health conditions, including serious mental illness, seems to support a role of adult peer supporters in increasing engagement and reducing disparities (Corrigan et al 2017a, b; Corrigan et al 2014; Corrigan et al 2017a, b). These studies suggest good reason to hypothesize that peer support could be effective for reducing disparities among minority youth with serious mental illness, who may benefit from culturally concordant mentorship and support
In order to evaluate disparities in service use, we examined whether outpatient service use was lower among Black or Latinx youth compared to non-Latinx white youth, in programs with and without peer specialists, in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties
Summary
Health and social support services provided by peers have the potential to reduce disparities in outpatient service use among minority transition age youth (youth ages 16–24, hereafter youth) with serious mental illness who remain underserved by the public mental health system (Alegria et al 2016). With respect to reducing disparities, for example, research on adult peer navigation among adults with a range of health conditions, including serious mental illness, seems to support a role of adult peer supporters in increasing engagement and reducing disparities (Corrigan et al 2017a, b; Corrigan et al 2014; Corrigan et al 2017a, b) Overall, these studies suggest good reason to hypothesize that peer support could be effective for reducing disparities among minority youth with serious mental illness, who may benefit from culturally concordant mentorship and support
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