The Impact of a Peer Navigator Program in Addressing the Health Needs of Latinos With Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

In-the-field navigation by peers seems to enhance service engagement, recovery, and quality of life. Whether these results occurred because navigators helped overcome barriers to treatment-regardless of whether they were peers per se-needs to be examined in future research.

The Availability of Peer Support and Disparities in Outpatient Mental Health Service Use Among Minority Youth with Serious Mental Illness

“…Hiring of minority peer specialists may reflect greater cultural sensitivity/competency within the program, and/or minority peer staff may contribute to a culturally sensitive climate (Jones et al 2020 ). Racial/ethnic concordance between peers and youth may play a positive role by increasing client trust and rapport (Corrigan et al 2018 ; Corrigan et al 2017a , b ), or by helping youth manage family and/or community stigma regarding mental illness (Greden et al 2010 ; Rivera-Segarra et al 2019 ). These possible interpretations all merit further exploration, including qualitative interviews designed to help unpack underlying directionality, processes and mechanisms.…”

A Systematic Review of the Roles and Contributions of Peer Providers in the Behavioral Health Workforce

“…17−30 Study participants comprised a majority sample of White (15 studies) 18,22,24−36 male individuals (15 studies), 19,22,23,25 −30,33−35,37−39 with a mean age of 45 years (age range = 30.6−55.3 years) who were single, divorced, or never married (6 studies). 19,23,28,31,37,38 Nonspecified serious mental illness (12 studies), [17][18][19][20][21]23,27,28,31,32,35,36 depression (11 studies), 17,[20][21][22]24,[31][32][33]35,37,39 schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder (11 studies), 17,20,21,23,27, 31,32,35 −37,39 and SUD (11 studies) 18,19,23,[25][26][27][29][30][31]34,38 were the most prevalent behavioral health conditions experienced by the study participants. Other frequently observed behavioral health conditions were bipolar disorder (8 studies) 17,20,…”

“…19,23,28,31,37,38 Nonspecified serious mental illness (12 studies), [17][18][19][20][21]23,27,28,31,32,35,36 depression (11 studies), 17,[20][21][22]24,[31][32][33]35,37,39 schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder (11 studies), 17,20,21,23,27, 31,32,35 −37,39 and SUD (11 studies) 18,19,23,[25][26][27][29][30][31]34,38 were the most prevalent behavioral health conditions experienced by the study participants. Other frequently observed behavioral health conditions were bipolar disorder (8 studies) 17,20,21,31,32,35,37,39 and anxiety disorders (5 stud...…”

“…Other frequently observed behavioral health conditions were bipolar disorder (8 studies) 17,20,21,31,32,35,37,39 and anxiety disorders (5 studies). 21,24,25,31,35 In addition, 11 studies focused on populations previously having received or currently receiving inpatient care or hospitalization for a mental health or SUD, 18,23,27,28,[31][32][33]35,36,38,39 and 6 focused on individuals previously having or currently experiencing homelessness. 19,26,27,29,37,38 A majority ( 16) of studies included participants receiving usual care as a control.…”

Synthesising evidence regarding hospital to home transitions supported by volunteers of third sector organisations: a scoping review protocol

“…50 Lay navigators contribute to successful transitions post-hospital discharge by helping people maintain health service engagement through assistance with scheduled appointments and referrals, providing accompaniment to appointments, communicating with relevant agencies and organisations and assisting with paperwork and forms. [51][52][53] In addition, lay navigators also sign post and help adults with chronic illness living in the community build connections with their community with the intent to improve quality of life, and develop independence and engagement. 54 Recognising the potential value of voluntary sector services in supporting patient care, organisations such as The Kings Fund, 55 the Institute for HealthCare Improvement 56 and The Beryl Institute 57 have advocated for more purposeful engagement of TSOs in the organisation and delivery of healthcare.…”