What does well-being mean to mental health peer workers?

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.

Citation

Edge, J. and Wheatley, S. (2022), "What does well-being mean to mental health peer workers?", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-09-2021-0067