Mayo DCU Group 2011Mayo DCU Group 2011

Presented by: Presented by: Mary KennedyMary Kennedy

Peter KellyPeter Kelly

Gerard MurrayGerard Murray

Mentor: Clem McLoughlinMentor: Clem McLoughlin

BackgroundBackgroundThe following presentation outlines an evaluation undertaken by our The following presentation outlines an evaluation undertaken by our

team to establish a professional peer support service in the Mayo team to establish a professional peer support service in the Mayo region. This project was based on a report conducted by the region. This project was based on a report conducted by the department of Health and Children entitled department of Health and Children entitled “A Vision for “A Vision for Change” (2006) Change” (2006) which recommends that:which recommends that:

““Service users and carers should participate at all levels of the Service users and carers should participate at all levels of the mental health system”. mental health system”.

It also states “Make user involvement the norm: there needs to be a It also states “Make user involvement the norm: there needs to be a willingness and acceptance from professionals that service users willingness and acceptance from professionals that service users have a right to be involved and this should be built automatically have a right to be involved and this should be built automatically into their ways of working”.into their ways of working”.

Definition of Peer Support Definition of Peer Support WorkerWorker

A peer support worker can be characterised as a person who:A peer support worker can be characterised as a person who: Has had personal experience of mental health difficulties.Has had personal experience of mental health difficulties. Who works with service users with similar difficulties in order to aid Who works with service users with similar difficulties in order to aid

recovery through promoting hope and providing support based on recovery through promoting hope and providing support based on common experiences.common experiences.

Can better relate to the service user and consequently offer more Can better relate to the service user and consequently offer more empathy and validation.empathy and validation.

Is considered “An expert by Experience”Is considered “An expert by Experience” (Dr. Edmund Molloy Consultant (Dr. Edmund Molloy Consultant Psychologist)Psychologist)

Rational for Peer SupportRational for Peer SupportResearch into mental health initiatives which are inclusive of peer Research into mental health initiatives which are inclusive of peer

support have shown:support have shown: Better opportunities for reintegration and independence of service Better opportunities for reintegration and independence of service

users into the community. users into the community. (Vision for Change 2006)(Vision for Change 2006) More support, insight, hope, empathy, confidence and a fresh More support, insight, hope, empathy, confidence and a fresh

perspective from involvement with their peer support worker perspective from involvement with their peer support worker (The (The Education of the Delivery of Mental Health Peer Support Worker – Scottish Government)Education of the Delivery of Mental Health Peer Support Worker – Scottish Government)

A higher level of satisfaction along with a significant improvement in A higher level of satisfaction along with a significant improvement in general wellbeing and a higher quality of life general wellbeing and a higher quality of life (The Mental Health Commission (The Mental Health Commission - New Zealand)- New Zealand)

Peer support can help promote a better understanding between Peer support can help promote a better understanding between staff, family and service users.staff, family and service users.

The use of peer support workers has proven to reduce the use of The use of peer support workers has proven to reduce the use of mental health services thus promoting cost savings.mental health services thus promoting cost savings.

Evidence that peer supports work

My peer support worker is the genuine article who has My peer support worker is the genuine article who has walked the walk so she can talk the talk. She is an walked the walk so she can talk the talk. She is an inspiration and gives me hope.inspiration and gives me hope.She relates to a person’s potential and call forth She relates to a person’s potential and call forth greatness.” greatness.” (Janet Peters, IIMHL Project Director, New (Janet Peters, IIMHL Project Director, New Zealand, 2010)Zealand, 2010)

““If I had met a Peer Worker in the early days of my If I had met a Peer Worker in the early days of my diagnosis, ten years of my life may not have been lost.” diagnosis, ten years of my life may not have been lost.” (Comment made by “Introduction to Peer Work” Course (Comment made by “Introduction to Peer Work” Course Participant, 2006) (Participant, 2006) (www.peerwork.org.au/www.peerwork.org.au/))

ConclusionFrom our research it is clear that:

There is a universal understanding that peer support workers are needed in Mayo Mental Health Services

Potential concerns amongst HSE staff can be eliminated through communication of the Peer Support Worker role.

This role will benefit the recover of service users and help reduce the workload of the mental health system through a lessening of repetitive relapse.

Will enhance the lives of service users and bridge the gap between service providers and families.

Will benefit the service by having members on the multidisciplinary team who are “experts by experience”.

Pathway to peer supportPathway to peer support

Next Steps Met with management of Mayo Met with management of Mayo

Mental Health Services.Mental Health Services. ProSPeR (Peer Support to promote ProSPeR (Peer Support to promote

recovery) submitted to Genio.recovery) submitted to Genio. Implementation group to bring Peer Implementation group to bring Peer

Support to reality.Support to reality. Peer Support worker for relatives.Peer Support worker for relatives.

DCU PathwaysDCU Pathways

MAYO DCU GROUP 2011 INCLUSIVEINCLUSIVE