A new self‐management intervention for people with severe psychiatric diagnoses

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and delivery of a self-management and peer support intervention for people with severe mental health diagnoses.Design/methodology/approach -There was a gap in the provision of a self-management intervention designed and delivered by people with psychiatric diagnoses. In total, 24 people with the experience of severe mental ill-health took part in developing the model and course materials for a new self-management intervention. A three-stage intervention was designed: two-day training, six follow-up sessions, and on-going peer support.Findings -Between 2009 and 2012, over six hundred participants across Wales were trained. In total, 35 of the new courses and 27 of the Bipolar UK courses have been delivered. Currently, 15 peer support groups are still meeting regularly and many people are receiving on-going support. At present, the effectiveness of the intervention is being evaluated; data are being collected at baseline, and at six and 12-month follow-up.Originality/value -Most self-management strategies developed in the past have been focused on physical health conditions and developed and delivered by clinicians. This new self-management intervention is based on the needs and experiences of the target beneficiaries. It was developed and is being delivered by people who have a psychiatric diagnosis, and have come through the training themselves.

Tokenistic or genuinely effective? Exploring the views of voluntary sector staff regarding the emerging peer support worker role in mental health

“…The formalization of the PSW role in mental health has been welcomed (Basset, Faulkner, Repper, & Stamou, ; Skills for Health, ) and has been noted as the fastest growing occupation within mental health (Doughty & Tse, ), with an exponential increase in the employment of PSWs (Castelein et al., ; Daniels et al., ; Franke, Paton, & Gassner, ; Scott, Doughty, & Kahi, ). Studies have reported the service user benefits of receiving support from a PSW which included: improved physical health (Bates, Kemp, & Isaac, ; Cooke et al., ); a sense of empowerment (Resnick & Rosenheck, ); improved effectiveness of self‐management skills (Crepaz‐Keay & Cyhlarova, ); a sense of acceptance and empathy (Chinman, Shoai, & Cohen, ; Van Vugt, Kroon, Delespaul, & Mulder, ); and a reduction in stigma (Ochocka, Nelson, Janzen, & Trainor, ).…”

“…Studies have reported the service user benefits of receiving support from a PSW which included: improved physical health (Bates, Kemp, & Isaac, 2008;Cooke et al, 2009); a sense of empowerment (Resnick & Rosenheck, 2008); improved effectiveness of self-management skills (Crepaz-Keay & Cyhlarova, 2012); a sense of acceptance and empathy (Chinman, Shoai, & Cohen, 2010;Van Vugt, Kroon, Delespaul, & Mulder, 2012); and a reduction in stigma (Ochocka, Nelson, Janzen, & Trainor, 2006). Evidence showed that by involving people with lived experience of mental health disorders in supporting others, it can enhance their own recovery journey (Pratt, MacGregor, Reid, & Given, 2012) and increase self-confidence, income and contribution (McLean, Biggs, Whitehead, Pratt, & Maxwell, 2009).…”

Making peer-focused self-management programmes work in public mental health

“…Programmes can link peer-support and self-management through a variety of strategies. Peer-led self-management allows peers (individuals in a similar life circumstance) to teach self-management in group settings to effectively improve wellbeing and healthy behaviours (Crepaz-Keay and Cyhlarova, 2012). In this review, peer-support and self-management describes programmes where trained facilitators or professionals with experience working with the given population lead group sessions.…”

Improving mental health in later life: the role of service user involvement

“…diabetes or arthritis) and often take the form of condition management. The Mental Health Foundation has developed and delivered self-management and peer support (Crepaz-Keay and Cyhlarova, 2012) and has worked with about 1,000 people across the UK.…”