Family Peer Support Research Articles

Key Considerations in Integrating a Peer Support Model Within Psychiatric Emergency Services at a Canadian Pediatric Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study.

Difficulties accessing primary care and community-based mental health supports has contributed toyouth (aged < 18years) with mental health concerns presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs). Peer support services in community-based mental health settings areassociated with improved outcomes; research exploring this in pediatric EDs is lacking. Determinefeasibility and acceptability of integrating peer support services into a pediatric ED. 13 peer support workers (PSWs) and 30 mental health providers andstakeholders participated in interviews or focus groups. Using codebookthematic analysis,recommendations for integrationwere identified. Key recommendations were:clear conceptualization of youth and family peer support, effective communication pathways between the multidisciplinary team and PSWs, provision of training for ED staff to ensure workplace readiness for peer support, and consistent support for PSWs. Integration of peer support into pediatric EDs offers a feasible andacceptable way to support youth experiencing mental health crises.

A mixed methods evaluation of family-driven care implementation in juvenile justice agencies in Georgia

Background Improving family engagement in juvenile justice (JJ) system behavioral health services is a high priority for JJ systems, reform organizations, and family advocacy groups across the United States. Family-driven care (FDC) is a family engagement framework used by youth-serving systems to elevate family voice and decision-making power at all levels of the organization. Key domains of a family-driven system of care include: 1) identifying and involving families in all processes, 2) informing families with accurate, understandable, and transparent information, 3) collaborating with families to make decisions and plan treatments, 4) responding to family diversity and inclusion, 5) partnering with families to make organizational decisions and policy changes, 6) providing opportunities for family peer support, 7) providing logistical support to help families overcome barriers to participation, and 8) addressing family health and functioning. FDC enhances family participation, empowerment, and decision-making power in youth services; ultimately, improving youth and family behavioral health outcomes, enhancing family-child connectedness, and reducing youth recidivism in the JJ setting.MethodsWe evaluated staff-perceived adoption of the eight domains of FDC across detention and community services agencies in the state of Georgia. We collected mixed methods data involving surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews with JJ system administrators, staff, and practitioners between November 2021- July 2022. In total, 140 individuals from 61 unique JJ agencies participated in surveys; and 16 JJ key informants participated in qualitative interviews.ResultsFDC domains with the highest perceived adoption across agencies included identifying and involving families, informing families, collaborative decision-making and treatment planning, and family diversity and inclusion. Other domains that had mixed or lower perceived adoption included involving families in organizational feedback and policy making, family peer support, logistical support, and family health and functioning. Adoption of FDC domains differed across staff and organizational characteristics.ConclusionsFindings from this mixed methods assessment will inform strategic planning for the scale-up of FDC strategies across JJ agencies in the state, and serve as a template for assessing strengths and weaknesses in the application of family engagement practices in systems nationally.

Using Autoethnography to Reflect on Peer Support Supervision in an Irish Context

Peer Support Workers and Family Peer Support Workers have been in place within an Irish context since the early 2000s. In February 2017, the Health Service Executive – the Irish health body - created a new grade of Peer Support Workers who were directly employed by the Health Service Executive to provide support for individuals with mental health challenges. To support this, specific training was co-produced and co-delivered by Dublin City University to these new students. Supervision at this time was provided by the Irish Advocacy Network to ensure the integrity of the supervision process. Despite the growth of the peer support movement both nationally and internationally in the past few years, there has yet to be a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers identified as suitable for implementation within an Irish context. A model of supervision for Peer Support Workers is imperative as these professionals specifically utilises their past lived experiences of mental health challenges to support others in their recovery. Additionally, supervision is also required to ensure fidelity to the values and ethos of the profession. This paper has gathered a wide variety of experts in peer support including former and current Peer Support Workers, educators of Peer Support Worker students and service management to begin conversations which will hopefully lead to a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers in an Irish context. This will be achieved using autoethnography – which is a methodology that puts the authors at the heart of the research process by allowing them to become participants in their own study. Resulting from this process, it is hoped that several key themes will be created to support further study that will lead to the creation of a clear model of supervision for Peer Support Workers that is applicable to community and statutory services within the Irish context.

Individualized peer support needs assessment for families with eating disorders

BackgroundPeer support among family members is important in cases of mental illness, but there has been limited practice or research on individual peer support specific to families taking care of patients with eating disorders (EDs). To conduct peer support activities, it is necessary to clarify the needs of families.ObjectivesThe objective of this study are to identify the needs for group and individual peer support and the characteristics of family members with EDs who are willing to receive and provide individual peer support.MethodA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted for family members with EDs recruited via the Internet. The questionnaires included demographic information on respondents and their patients, questions about the need for family peer support, interest in offering peer support, and social resources. All participants were given the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI_8), and the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS).ResultsOut of 314 respondents, 87.3% believed that a group peer support system was necessary, whereas 56.7% believed that an individual peer support system was necessary. As to whether they want to use individual peer support, 70 (22.4%) stated “Extremely YES” and 99 (31.7%) stated “Moderately YES.” Family members who were willing to receive individual peer support used more social resources and had higher scores on the GHQ and J-ZBI_8. Regarding the provision of peer support, 38 (12.2%) responded “very interested and willing to provide it if possible” and 87 (27.9%) responded “interested and willing to study.” Those with a high willingness to provide peer support used more social resources and had lower ABOS scores; however, 38 respondents (45.7%) exceeded the GHQ mental health screening cutoff (3/4).ConclusionFamily members with ED had a strong need for family peer support Those willing to receive individual peer support suffered from poor mental health and high burden of care. Family members willing to provide peer support tended to have patients whose EDs symptoms had already improved, but their own mental health was not necessarily good. Training for potential peer supporters is needed to implement peer support.

Loving a broken soul: The lived experience perspective on the implications of Veterans’ moral injuries for families

LAY SUMMARY Research on and investigation of potential implications of moral injury (MI) for Veteran family members remains uncharted territory while its harsh realities play out in their homes. Family members can feel a sense of distance and divide from the Veteran and, as a result, are left on the periphery trying to understand. Many internalize this distance as a reflection of their own worth or the quality of their relationship with the Veteran. Secondary exposure to events through the Veteran can also lead family members to question their own beliefs about the world, humanity, institutions, their loved one, or themselves. One also cannot help but wonder, what do the farther-reaching tentacles of MI grip? What are the potential implications for children’s development and their own moral schemas? Could family support and understanding play a vital role in the Veteran’s recovery from MI? This article discusses potential implications for family members of Veteran MI from the lived experience perspective of the spouse of a Veteran with posttraumatic stress disorder and MI who has a professional background in the fields of Veteran and family mental health and family peer support.

Social class and prosocial behavior in early adolescence: The moderating roles of family and school factors

ABSTRACT The association between prosocial behavior and adolescents’ social class—defined as one’s parents’ position in society assessed in terms of education, income, and occupation status—is far from conclusive and the moderators of the link have not been fully researched. Using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD) (N = 1,058), this study investigated the association between social class and 5th graders’ prosocial behavior, as well as the moderating roles of maternal sensitivity, positive family emotional expressiveness, teacher-student relationship, and peer support. The current research found that social class was positively associated with adolescents’ prosocial behavior, and the positive association between social class and prosocial behavior was less pronounced for adolescents with higher levels of maternal sensitivity, positive family emotional expressiveness, teacher-student relationship, and peer support than those with lower levels of maternal sensitivity, positive family emotional expressiveness, teacher-student relationship, and peer support. The present findings yield evidence on the negative influence of low social class on adolescents’ prosocial behavior, but this effect would be buffered by supportive and healthy relationships in family and school contexts.

A Review of Microsystem Factors Related to Stress in Undergraduate Students Studying Communication Sciences and Disorders

PurposeThe purpose of this review article is to review the existing literature about the factors that impact stress in undergraduate students studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Current undergraduate students are more stressed than their predecessors and the body of literature about stressed students is growing. However, CSD students' experience may differ from their non-CSD peers and there is a dearth of literature about stressed CSD students, in particular.MethodThis is a narrative review of the literature about the factors that impact stress in undergraduate students studying CSD. The review is structured using the ecological systems theoretical framework with an emphasis on the microsystems that encompass the most salient factors related to undergraduate students' stress. Factors such as family influence (e.g., parenting style, parent education), peer support, faculty relationships, minority status, technology, and individual health behaviors were explored in the literature using electronic databases.ConclusionsThis review of the literature suggests that a myriad of microsystem factors contribute to the stress of undergraduate CSD students. Although the review focuses on microsystem factors that are closest to students, it is important to situate the results in context. The mental health of college students was on the decline before COVID-19, and as the economic and public health of the nation and world shift, the urgency to attend to our students increases. This review contributes to the greater understanding of CSD students' experiences that will inform programmatic and individual support.

Paths Toward Sustainable State and County Systems of Care.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Children's Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Cooperative Agreements support the development of children's systems of care (SOCs). The National Evaluation of CMHI interviewed representatives from Mental Health Authorities (MHA) and Medicaid agencies in 25 state, county, and municipal jurisdictions in the FY13 and FY14 grant cohorts in grant years 2 and 4. This paper analyzes funding for five services (wraparound planning; intensive care coordination; family peer support; youth peer support; and flexible funding) that are a core part of SOCs, and grantee descriptions of sustainability strategies and challenges. The analysis found that, of the five pathways described in the literature: securing Medicaid coverage; obtaining state MH system funding; braiding funding with other child-serving systems; modifying payment structures to support workforce development; and redeploying funds from higher cost to lower cost services, grantees most frequently used Medicaid coverage, often combined with MHA funding.

Factors Related to the Well-Being of Older Chinese Living in Institutional Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

Due to the fast pace of population aging and the “4-2-1” family structure, institutional care was proposed as “support” for the elderly care service system in China. The purpose of this systematic review paper was to identify factors that are associated with the well-being of older residents living at institutional care facilities in China. Studies were included if participants (1)aged 60 years or older, (2) were living at an institutional care facility in mainland China. Studies were excluded if participants (1) were Chinese Immigrants, or residents in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, (2) were cognitively impaired, or (3) at the end of their lives and need palliative care in institutional facilities. A total of 12 articles were selected in this review study based on PRISMA guidelines: 10 quantitative studies and 2 qualitative studies. Anderson healthcare utilization model was used in this study to categorize related factors into three dynamics: predisposing factors, enabling factors, and need factors. Among predisposing factors, older, more educated, widowed adults with higher income were more likely to have higher levels of well-being in institutional care facilities. Social supports, such as family visit, activity engagement and peer support, were very important enabling factors. The actual need, such as ADL, health status and depression, was another important dimension for the well-being of older Chinese living in institutional care facilities. Aiming at increasing older residents’ well-being, the present study suggested more tailored interventions should be designed and implemented to enhance their social support, activity engagement and peer support.

Youth Crisis and Transition Services (CATS): Incorporating Family Peer Support Specialists to Assist Families During Crisis

Youth Crisis and Transition Services (CATS): Incorporating Family Peer Support Specialists to Assist Families During Crisis

DETERMINANTS OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION (BSE) ONCE A MONTH REGULARLY IN WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN KUBUTAMBAHANAN VILLAGE

Significant condition occurred in increased rate of breast cancer, based on global statistical data. Awareness of breast cancer prevention methods is very important in reducing morbidity and mortality caused by breast cancer. One of them with breast self-examination (BSE) because it is easy, cheap, privacy, safe and does not require special equipment, but this method is not yet widely applied by most women. The purpose of this study was to determine the determinants of regular breast self-examination once a month by women of childbearing age in the Kubutambahanan Village. The method of research was observational with cross sectional approach. Samples were taken purposively with a large number of samples determined as many as 154 respondents. The independent variables in this study were age, level of education, occupation, family history of breast cancer, distance of health facility coverage, mass media exposure, partner / family support, peer group support, dependent variable in this study was breast self-examination behavior. Data collection using questionnaires with structured interview techniques. The study began in June until September 2019. After the data were collected, univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyzes with logistic regression were performed using software. The results of this study found that the determinant variable of monthly breast self-examination was education level (OR = 5,321.95% CI: -0.324--0.213), mass media access (OR = 3,543.95% CI: -0.213 - 0.124), partner or family support (OR = 7,002.95% CI: -1.342--0.543) and peer age group support (OR = 5,326.95% CI: -3.234--1.342) remain jointly influential for regular monthly breast self examination. Breast self-examination every month is regularly related to factors of education level, mass media access, partner or family support and peer support.

Supporting the Support Network: The Value of Family Peer Work in Youth Mental Health Care.

Reported rates of mental illness continue to climb amongst young Australians. In a family environment the carers of these young people play a highly influential role in their recovery process, however this responsibility can also have significant emotional, financial and health impacts on carers. Thispaper details the findings of an evaluation project examining the impact and effectiveness of a newly developed and implemented Family Peer Support Work model. Benefits were found which included: family care-givers receiving emotional support and empathy; reduced stress, loneliness, isolation and stigma; bridging between the family and the clinical care team; helping families to navigate through the complexities of the care system; and connecting families to other services. Clarity on role definition for the FPSWs evolved over the course of implementation along with a clearer articulation of the model of care and emergent knowledge on useful elements of training, ongoing professional development, mentoring and wellbeing.

Comparative Psychology of Children Who Experience Intra-familial Versus Extra-familial Victimization

This study is based on secondary analysis from a sample of individuals attending colleges in the United States. It is an examination of links between childhood victimization and subsequent depression. An assessment of the effect on depression of intra- and extra-familial victimization was made to identify the means by which each affects depression. It was hypothesized that victimization affects subsequent depression through its damaging impact on the development of social resources and personal resources, including family support, peer support, self-esteem, and mastery. It was hypothesized that the importance of each mediator in explaining the link between victimization and depression differs by the type of victimization experienced. To test these hypotheses, a series of hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Findings indicate that victimization by non-family is related to depression independent of victimization by family, but victimization by family is not related to depression independent of victimization by non-family. The resource variables demonstrated disparate mediating influences; each produced a different sized reduction in the strength of relationship between extra-familial victimization and depression.

DETERMINANT FACTOR OF CONDOM USE AMONG MEN SEX MEN AND TRASNGENDER WOMEN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION : A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract&#x0D; Background : based on data from UNAIDS 2017 reported that men sex men(MSM) and other MSM (transgender women) accounted for 12 percent of new HIV infections in 2017. The Asia Pacific region is one of the regions that contributes new HIV cases from MSM and transgender women. Unprotected anal sex is a major cause of HIV transmission among MSM and transgender women. Objective: the study aimed to describe determinan factors of condom use among men sex men and transgender women in Southeast Asia region. Methods : we search literature from various relevant sources. Five databases including PubMed, PROQUEST, Plos One, Science Direct and Ebsco were included in this study. Results : several factors that contribute to condom use such as individual factors including attitudes, knowledge related to HIV, decreased sexual pleasure, substance use and gender presentation. Other factors that influence condom use are family support, peer support and experience of physical violence and sexual abuse. the type of partner and the amount of pay for sex among transgender women also influence condom use. Conclusion :several factors are noted from individual, social, family and sex partner. Further research especially intervention research, it is necessary to consider the factors that influence condom use before developing interventions for MSM and transgender women. &#x0D;

Spiritual Resilience Model on Drug Abuse Intensity among Senior High School Students, South Kalimantan: A Path Analysis

Resilience is the way individuals to manage stress in life to reduce negative consequences and relate to health status, resilience is influenced by several factors, spiritual, family support, peer support, self-concept, and coping. As far we know, no study mentioned about spiritual resilience as a mediator between these factors and drug abuse intensity, so the aim of this study was to develop a spiritual resilience model on drug abuse intensity among senior high school students in South Kalimantan with mediators of spiritual resilience. This study used a cross-sectional design and self-report questionnaires. The population in this study was senior high school students in South Kalimantan, and used cluster random sampling technique. Total sample was 243. Data was collected using self-report questionnaires. All questionnaires except spiritual had a Cronbach alpha > 0.5. This study showed that family support, peer support, self-concept, and coping were predictors of drug abuse intensity and spiritual resilience was a mediator between variables, except coping. Model fit indices goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.988, adjusted GFI (AGFI) = 0.918, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.985 and root mean squared error of the approximation (RMSEA) = 0.089. Path analysis suggests developing interventions to prevent abuse in senior high school students based on a model of spiritual resilience.

Investigation of the relationship between perceived social support and psychological resilience in bipolar disorder: a cross-sectional study

Objective: Psychological resilience (PR) is a risk factor that is associated with onset of disease, quality of life, and prognosis in bipolar disorder (BD). There are variables that can affect PR positively and negatively; one of them is perceived social support (PSS). The aim of this study was to examine this relationship. Methods: The Multidimensi-onal Scale of PSS, Adult PR Scale, and Data Collection Form were requested from 90 patients with bipolar I disorder in the euthymic stage and 30 controls who were matched for age, gender, marital status, and level of education. Results: PSS and PR scores were significantly lower in the bipolar group than in the control group. In the control group, only the family subscale of PSS was significantly correlated with PR, while both the family and friend subscales were significantly associated with PR in the bipolar group. In a regression analysis which considered PR as an independent variable, the family and friend subscales of PSS and age at onset were significant. Conclusion: Family therapy and peer support groups in addition to medical therapy in BD may contribute positively to prognosis. In addition, training modules to develop PR for BD patients with risk factors such as childhood trauma and early onset would improve prognosis.

Peer-driven family support services in the context of first-episode psychosis: Participant perceptions from a Canadian early intervention programme.

This paper aims to advance our understanding of the experience of participating in peer support groups for family members of persons with psychosis and to expand the scant body of literature on peer support in the context of early intervention services for psychosis. Such an examination is relevant because the implementation and uptake of family-focused interventions remain inconsistent in early intervention services, despite their proven benefits. To enable family caregivers to support one another, a family peer support project was initiated at an early intervention service for psychosis in Montreal, Canada. A family peer support provider and researchers collaboratively designed and conducted this study to examine the experience of those who participated in family peer support groups. Forty-four family members completed an English or French online questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used to code responses to open-ended questions to unpack crucial elements of this peer support intervention. Three key themes were identified-the impact of psychosis on families; understanding and coping with psychosis through family peer support; and improving family peer support services. Mutual support through sharing experiences; gains in knowledge of the illness and its treatment; emotional support; and increased caregiving and self-care capacities and skills were identified as critical benefits of family peer support. Family peer support can be an acceptable and cherished means of engaging and sustaining families and enhancing their caregiving skills. Its integration into early intervention services holds the promise of helping promote recovery and reducing caregiver burden.

Spotlight on Caroline Families First Wraparound Program: Lessons for Advancing Collaborative Family-Centred Care for Complex Child and Youth Mental Health

The Caroline Families First Wraparound Program operationalizes cross-sectoral collaboration and planning, family peer support, and family-directed care consistent with strategic directions within the Mental Health Strategy for Canada. In this spotlight article, we present findings from a case study that describes what makes the program work, the barriers and facilitators to its success, and draw conclusions about the lessons learned. For example, while family-directed care is a core and essential value of the program, unless well understood, it can create tensions within teams. Similarly, structural factors such as provider reimbursement can inhibit physician involvement. Suggestions about these and other contextual factors can inform other efforts to mobilize the Mental Health Strategy.

Family group interventions in an early psychosis program: A re-evaluation of practice after 10 years of service delivery.

The role of family in supporting service users in coping with illness and engaging in relapse prevention in early psychosis is important. Taking on this caring though is stressful and challenging, and it has been found that support and information for carers assists in their coping and reduces isolation. To evaluate the current utility of a psychoeducation group program in a public adult mental health service, for the families of people experiencing early psychosis. A purpose-designed pre- and post-intervention questionnaire was administered to quantitatively measure group participants' changes in perceptions of their understanding of mental illness and its treatment through attending the group. Additional qualitative items were used to determine other knowledge, benefits and any critical feedback. The group program continues to result in highly significant improvements in family members' understanding of psychosis, recovery, medications, relapse prevention and substance co-morbidities. Additional feedback reaffirmed previous findings that family members find group peer support valuable and that this reduces isolation and the experience of stigma. The current evaluation, conducted following 10 years of early psychosis group work, found there to be efficacy in family peer support groups and that it is important to provide family interventions in public early psychosis mental health services.

"Worried about relapse": Family members' experiences and perspectives of relapse in first-episode psychosis.

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding on the subject of relapse from the perspectives of family members of young people receiving services for a first-episode psychosis (FEP). A qualitative descriptive approach, using focus group methods, was used to elicit experiences, understandings, and knowledge of relapse in FEP. Family members were recruited from 4 specialized early intervention programmes for psychosis in Canada. A total of 24 (6 male, 18 female) family members participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. The core underlying theme in all focus groups was worrying about relapse, which was often accompanied by significant levels of fear and anxiety, and was influenced by: (1) impact of an episode of psychosis; (2) limited confidence in recognizing and coping with relapse; (3) unmet needs for coping skills and emotional support and (4) unmet needs regarding frequency and continuity of communication with clinicians. Family members' unmet needs for relapse-focused education, support and communication with service providers and peers, can have a negative impact on relapse prevention. Addressing family members' education and support needs in a tailored manner (including preferences for types of peer support) can contribute positively to their confidence and ability to recognize and respond to relapse. This can help reduce fear and anxieties about relapse, and positively influence the ability to function as caregivers. Future research should focus on best approaches for providing education, sustained contact with the clinical team and family peer support.