Peer support occurs when people provide knowledge, experience, emotional, social or practical help with each other. This usually refers to initiatives consisting of trained supporters (although they can be provided by peers without training), and can take a number of forms such as peer mentoring, reflective listening (reflecting content and/or feelings), or counseling. Peer support is also used to refer to initiatives where co-workers, non-governmental organizations and others meet, directly or online, together with mutually supportive mutual support.
Peer support is different from other forms of social support where the source of support is peers , people who are similar in fundamental ways to the recipients of support; their relationship is equality. A colleague is in a position to offer support based on relevant experience: he has "been there, done that" and can relate to others who are now in the same situation. Trained peer support personnel such as peer support specialists and peer counselors receive special training and are required to obtain a Continuing Education Unit, such as a clinical staff. Some other trained support workers may also law enforcement personnel and firefighters as well as emergency medical responders.
Video Peer support
The underlying theory
The effectiveness of peer support is believed to be derived from the psychosocial processes best described by Mark Salzer in 2002: social support, experiential knowledge, social learning theory, social comparison theory and helper-therapy principles.
- Social support is a positive psychosocial interaction with others who have mutual trust and attention. Positive relationships contribute to positive adjustment and buffering against stress and difficulties by offering (a) emotional support (self-esteem, attachment, and assurance), (b) instrumental support (material goods and services), (c) companionship and (d) information (advice, guidance, and feedback).
- Experience knowledge is the specific information and perspectives that people gain from living through certain experiences such as substance abuse, physical disability, chronic physical or mental illness, or traumatic events such as combat, natural disaster, domestic violence or violent crime, sexual harassment, or imprisonment. Experiential knowledge tends to be unique and pragmatic and when shared contribute to solving problems and improving quality of life.
- Social learning theory postulates that peers, because they have lived and survived the relevant experience, are more trustworthy examples for others. Interactions with peers who successfully overcome their experience or disease are more likely to result in positive behavioral changes.
- Social comparison means that individuals are more comfortable interacting with others who share a characteristic similarity with themselves, such as psychiatric illness, to build a sense of normalcy. By interacting with others who are considered better than them, peers are given a sense of optimism and something to strive for.
- The principle of helper therapy suggests that there are four significant benefits to those providing peer support: (a) improving interpersonal skills as a result of impacting the lives of others; (B) the development of a sense of equality in giving and taking between itself and others; (c) the maid acquires new, personally relevant knowledge while assisting; and (d) the helper receives the social consent of the person they are helping, and the other.
Maps Peer support
In school and education
Peer mentoring
Peer assistance takes place in a learning environment such as a school, usually between more experienced students and new students. Peer mentors appear especially in high school where students who move from elementary school may need help adjusting to the schedule and new lifestyle of high school life. Peer mentoring is also used in the workplace as a means to orient new employees. New employees paired with peer mentors are twice as likely to stay in their jobs than those who do not receive guidance.
Peer listening
This form of peer support is widely used in schools. Trained peer supporters, usually from within a school or university, or sometimes by outside organizations, such as Childline In Partnership With Schools (CHIPS) programs, to become "active listeners". At school, peer supporters are usually available during break or lunch.
Peer mediation
Peer mediation is a way of handling bullying incidents by bringing victims and bullies together under mediation by one of their peers.
Peer helper in sports
Co-workers in sports work with young adults in sports such as soccer, soccer, tracks, volleyball, baseball, cheerleading, swimming, and basketball. They can provide assistance with game tactics (eg watching the ball), emotional support, training support, and social support.
In health
In mental health
Peer support can occur inside, outside or around traditional mental health services and programs, between two people or in groups. Peer support is a key concept in recovery approaches and in consumer-service programs. Consumers/clients of mental health programs have also established non-profit, self-supporting non-profit organizations and support each other and to challenge related stigma and discrimination. The role of peer workers in mental health services is the subject of a conference in London in April 2012, co-hosted by the NHS Center for Mental Health and Confederation. Research has shown that self-help peer-run groups result in an increase in psychiatric symptoms resulting in decreased hospitalization, greater social support networks and increased self-esteem and social function. There are many variations in the way peer support is defined and conceptualized with regard to mental health services. In some cases, doctors, psychiatrists and other staff who do not necessarily have their own experience in receiving psychiatric care are being trained, often by survivors of psychiatric problems, in peer support as an approach to building sincere, reciprocal relationships, and not coercive..
For anxiety and depression
In Canada, LEAF (Live Effectively with anxiety and Fear) The program is a peer-led support group for cognitive therapy-the behavior of people with mild to moderate panic disorder.
In the 2011 meta-analysis of seven randomized trials comparing peer support interventions for cognitive-behavioral therapy groups in depressed patients, peer support interventions were found to improve depressive symptoms more than ordinary treatments and the results may be comparable to group cognitive behavioral therapy. These findings suggest that peer support interventions have the potential to be an effective component of depression treatment, and they support the inclusion of peer support in recovery-oriented mental health.
Several studies have shown that peer support reduces fear during stressful situations such as combat and domestic violence and can relieve post-traumatic stress disorder. The Vietnam Era Vietnam Veterans Adjustment Survey of 1982 showed that PTSD was highest in men and women who did not have positive social support from family, friends and society at large.
For first responders
Peer support programs have also been implemented to address psychological stress and trauma among law enforcement personnel and firefighters as well as emergency medical responders. Peer support is an essential component of a critical incident stress management program used to reduce stress and trauma among first responders of disasters.
For survivor of trauma
Peer support has been used to help trauma victims, such as refugees, cope with stress and face tough living conditions. Peer support is an integral part of the services provided by the Special Care Center for Trauma-Informed. Other programs have been designed for women victims of domestic violence and women in prisons.
Survivor Corps defines peer support for trauma victims as "Encouragement and assistance provided by colleagues who have overcome similar difficulties to generate confidence and autonomy and to enable survivors to make their own decisions and apply them." Peer support is a fundamental strategy in rehabilitating landmine victims in Afghanistan, Bosnia, El Salvador and Vietnam. A study of 470 survivors of war-related violence in six countries showed that nearly one hundred percent said they benefited from peer support.
The peer support program operated by the Center d'Encadrement et de DÃÆ' Â © velopement Dem Ancensen in Burundi with support from the International Stabilization and Recovery Center and the Action of Armed Violence has assisted war victims associated with the war. violence, including women with disabilities, and ex-female guerrillas since 2010. Similar programs in Rwanda work with survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Peer support has been recommended as a fundamental part of the aid program for survivors of war-related violence.
A 1984 study of the impact of peer support and support groups for victims of domestic violence shows that 146 battered women found women's support groups were the most beneficial source of the various treatments available. Women in these groups seem to provide direct advice and act as role models. A 1986 study of 70 adolescent mothers considered to be at risk of domestic violence shows that peer support enhances cognitive-problem-solving skills, self-reinforcement, and parental competence.
Pandora's Aquarium, an online support group that operates as part of Pandora's Project, offers peer support for rape and sexual assault victims as well as their friends and family.
In addiction
The twelve-step program to address substance abuse and other addiction recovery groups is often based on peer support. Since the 1930s, Alcoholics Anonymous has promoted peer support between new members and their sponsors: "The sponsorship process is this: an alcoholic who has made some progress in a continuous experience sharing recovery program, individually with other alcoholics who are trying to reach or maintain calm through the AA. "Other addiction recovery programs rely on peer support without following the twelve-step model.
In chronic diseases
Peer support has been beneficial for many people living with diabetes. Diabetes covers all aspects of people's lives, often for decades. Peer support can provide emotional, social, and practical help that helps people do the things they need to do to stay healthy. Peer support groups for diabetics complement and improve other health care services. J.F. Caro is one of the founders and Chief Scientific Officer of one of the groups called Peer for Progress.
Peer support has also been provided for people with cancer and HIV. The Breast Cancer Network from Strength trains peer counselors to work with breast cancer patients.
For people with disabilities
Peer support is considered a key component of the independent living movement and has been widely used by organizations working with people with disabilities, including the American Amphibes Coalition (ACA) and the Victims Corps. Since 1998 the ACA has operated the National Peer Network for the loss of limbs. The Blinded Veterans Association recently launched Operation Peer Support (OPS), a program designed to support men and women returning to the US blinded or experiencing significant visual impairment in connection with their military service. Peer support is also beneficial for survivors of traumatic brain injury and their families. There is also FacingDisability for Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries [1], which has peer counseling programs in addition to 1,000 videos taken from interviewing people with spinal cord injuries, their families, caregivers and experts.
For veterans and their families
Some programs provide peer support for military veterans in the US and Canada. In 2010 the Women's Support Group of Military Women and Women was formed in Helena, MT.
The Tragedy Assistance for Rescue (TAPS) Assistance Program provides peer support, crisis care, accident case assistance, and grief and trauma resources for families of US military personnel. Operation Peer Support (OPS) is a program for US military veterans who are blinded or experiencing significant visual impairment.
In January 2013 Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the United States Senate Committee for Veterans Affairs, sponsored the amendment of the National Defense Authorization Act (S.3254) which will require peer counseling as part of a comprehensive suicide prevention program for US veterans.
For veterans with PTSD
Researchers at the National Center of Palo Alto for PTSD reviewed the literature on peer intervention for PTSD and found that the study fell into three broad categories, called "peer outreach for those affected by traumatic events;" "partial professional delivery of trauma-focused interventions" and "peer support for recovery from PTSD". Peer support support for those affected by traumatic events refers to programs that seek to identify and reach those who are suffering or at risk of mental health problems following traumatic events as a means of connecting these people with mental health services. A paraprofessional peer is defined as having a common background as a target population and working closely with and complementing the services of the mental health team. These colleagues are trained in specific interventions (such as First Aid Psychology) and closely monitored by professional mental health care workers. Peer support for recovery from PTSD refers to a program in which a person with a PTSD life experience, experiencing significant symptom reduction, provides formal services to those who have not made a significant step in recovery from their condition. Peer support for recovery models focuses on improving overall health and fitness, and has long been successful in the treatment of SMI (serious mental illness) but relatively new to PTSD.
A further review of the existing literature finds that paraprofessionals recruited, trained, supervised, and carefully supported can provide effective mental health interventions, and may be valuable in communities with fewer resources for mental health care.
Researchers at the Palo Alto VA National Center for PTSD also conducted a focus group on the VA Palo Alto Program Trauma Health Program, PTSD Housing Rehabilitation Program, and the Women's Trauma Recovery Program to determine the veteran's and staff's perceptions of informal partner support interventions already in place. Four themes have been identified, including "peer support that contributes to social connected feelings," "modeling positive roles by peer support providers," "peer support adds to the care offered by professional providers," and "fellow supporters act as 'broker culture' and orient the recipients for mental health care. "
These findings have been practiced through peer support programs for veterans at the outpatient clinics of Sonora, Stockton, and Modesto VA. This clinic is part of the Palo Alto Veterans Health Care System that reaches the northern part of California. The program is funded through grants to support a new treatment approach to serving veterans in traditionally under-served rural areas. The leadership for this program comes from Menlo Park's division of the Palo Alto VA system.
The peer support program has been in operation since 2012 with more than 268 unique veterans seen between 2012 and 2015. The two peer support providers involved in the program are veterans of Vietnam and Iraq war, and after recovering from their own mental health disorders. leveraging their experience to help their fellow veterans. Both providers are responsible for leading between 5 and 7 groups each week as well as making phone calls and face-to-face visits. This service has successfully helped improve the often-burdened mental health care team at the outpatient VA clinic in the center.
Peer support programs have been described in several publications. Personal success stories featured in Stanford Medicine magazine and the collaborative nature of the program are described in a recently published book, Partnerships for Mental Health.
For sex workers
Some peer-based organizations exist for sex workers. The purpose of this organization is to support the health, rights and welfare of sex workers and advocate on their behalf for legal reform to work more safely. Sex work is work and there are many people who are happy to choose it as a job/career. While the sex trade exists, not all people who do sex work do so under pressure. Social stigma is a major obstacle facing sex workers, with many people trying to 'save' them. Peer support workers and peer educators are seen as best practice by the Network of Sex Industry (SIN) when engaging with members of the community because colleagues can understand that one can happily choose to engage in sex work.
See also
- Peer support specialist
- Lay community advisors
- Peer education
- Peer mentoring
- People-centered planning
- Self-determination
- Self help
- Self-help group for mental health
References
External links
- Support Group in Curlie (based on DMOZ)
- International Red Cross/Crescent Reference Center for Psychosocial Support
- American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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