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Critical issues in family peer support in a youth mental health service
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  • Sarah Whitson,
  • Zsofi de Haan,
  • Susan Preece,
  • Maureen Swinson,
  • Sue Williams,
  • Karen Smith,
  • Jennifer Bité,
  • Isabel Zbukvic,
  • Magenta Simmons
Sarah Whitson
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Zsofi de Haan
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Susan Preece
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Maureen Swinson
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Sue Williams
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Karen Smith
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Jennifer Bité
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Isabel Zbukvic
Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
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Magenta Simmons
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background: Family peer workers form connections with family/carers and can offer emotional support, psychoeducation and referrals based on their own lived experience. Although an increasing number of family peer support programs exist in the youth mental health sector, they are rarely described or reported on. There is a need for greater documentation of the experiences of family peer workers operating in the healthcare sector, in order to raise awareness of issues currently facing the workforce and support organisations to make positive changes. Methods: We present a detailed description of the family peer support program at Orygen in Victoria, Australia. In doing so, we highlight factors that impact effective program implementation and delivery from the perspectives of four family peer workers and two supervisors. Findings/Conclusions: Organisations should encourage self-care and social connections between family peer workers to reduce impacts of ongoing mental-ill health and workplace burnout and isolation. Staff should be educated about the field of family peer support to improve role clarity and foster a positive team environment. It is vital to develop a comprehensive position description, training program, and onboarding procedures to ensure new employees are adequately equipped. To improve staff retention and compensate those with further education, experience and skills, organisations may consider offering increased remuneration, negotiate longer-term contracts with a potential for a greater number of workdays, and should promote/hire senior lived experience positions. Further research is needed to formally investigate barriers and facilitating factors of program implementation in mental health settings.
Submitted to Early Intervention in Psychiatry
09 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
31 May 20241st Revision Received
09 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Nov 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor