Family peer support work in an early intervention youth mental health service

Abstract

This paper describes the evolution of a family peer support programme in an early intervention service in Melbourne, Australia. In response to policy directions from Federal and State governments calling for carer participation in public mental health services, and feedback from the families of young people at Orygen Youth Health, the 'Families Helping Families' project was developed. The positive acceptance by families of this innovative programme also warrants further exploration. The programme has overcome many organizational hurdles associated with specifically trained and employed family carers working alongside professional mental health clinicians. This article describes the change processes involved in implementing this programme and documents preliminary expressions of the benefits of family peer support. The contribution of lived experience in treatment and consumer care plans needs rigorous research and evaluation.

“Some guidance and somewhere safe”: Caregiver and clinician perspectives on service provision for families of young people experiencing serious suicide ideation and attempt

“…Indeed, internet-based forums have been identified as helpful for those experiencing post-suicide bereavement (Bailey, Krysinska, O'Dea, & Robinson, 2017). Just as a multidisciplinary team-based approach can assist clinicians feel contained in working with this population (Rice et al, 2014), models of peer support can assist caregivers (Leggatt & Woodhead, 2016). Hence, there is a strong rationale to trial such online intervention with the present population, which would be especially helpful for caregivers who are unable to attend the clinical service in person.…”

“…While relevant clinical research exists within the child and adolescent domain for those under 15 years (Bickerton, Hense, Benstock, Ward, & Wallace, ; Gross & Goldin, ), with empirical support for repairing interpersonal ruptures and rebuilding emotionally protective parent–child relationships for adolescents (Diamond, Diamond, & Levy, ), there is a lack of evidence‐based guidance on how best to utilise systems of support (such as caregivers) for young people (aged 15–25 years) experiencing depression and suicidal ideation (Leggatt & Woodhead, ). There are significant developmental differences between those in the child and adolescent phase, and those in older adolescence and emerging adulthood—including a higher suicide rate in the latter (Arnett, ).…”

Integrating family work into the treatment of young people with severe and complex depression: a developmentally focused model

“…36 Although family peer support workers are not mental health clinicians, they receive training and ongoing supervision from experienced clinicians. 28 The family peer support workers offer general support and reassurance to families and caregivers experiencing similar challenges based on their own experiences of having a relative with a mental illness. The family peer support programme is designed to be friendly and supportive, with family peer support workers freely sharing their own experiences as parents and carers, helping caregivers to normalize anxieties and uncertainty, and providing mentorship from one caregiver to another.…”

“…This support is offered by phone or face‐to‐face, and includes caregivers having access to a family resource room . Although family peer support workers are not mental health clinicians, they receive training and ongoing supervision from experienced clinicians . The family peer support workers offer general support and reassurance to families and caregivers experiencing similar challenges based on their own experiences of having a relative with a mental illness.…”

“…The background model underpinning family work in YMC draws on contemporary family therapy, which is predominantly integrative, combining elements of structural and systems therapies. Although the best type and format of family‐based intervention for first‐episode mental illness remains unclear, the YMC approach provides a hierarchical, stepped spectrum of family services and options designed meet the ranging needs of families.…”