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1 – 10 of over 13000Traci Carrano Traci Carrano and Darrell Norman Burrell
The emergence of COVID-19 has exacerbated and spurred the growth of mental health issues in ways that have challenged mental health workers tremendously. The complex nature of…
Abstract
Purpose
The emergence of COVID-19 has exacerbated and spurred the growth of mental health issues in ways that have challenged mental health workers tremendously. The complex nature of COVID-19 has made the need of mental health professionals extremely important. Hospital ward overcrowding, social distancing requirements, sequestrations, limits to face-to-face consultations have created barriers to mental health access, especially those in need of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. Certified Peer Recovery Specialists play a critical role in the treatment of mental illness through their support and engagement of those recovering from substance abuse. Many in this role are hired because they have a strong skillset for help-oriented clinical work but are often challenged, especially in times like this to development and demonstrate leadership skills. This paper explores the nature and need to develop leadership skills and leadership challenges for people in this field through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and a content analysis of the current and seminal literature.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper explores the nature and need to develop leadership skills and leadership challenges for people in mental health through IPA and a content analysis of the current and seminal literature.
Findings
The essential necessity to invest in the cultivation of peer recovery specialists and mental health professionals as organizational leaders.
Originality/value
Hospital ward overcrowding, social distancing requirements, sequestrations, limits to face- to- face consultations have created barriers to mental health access, especially those in need of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. Certified Peer Recovery Specialists play a critical role in the treatment of mental illness through their support and engagement of those recovering from substance abuse.
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Chyrell Bellamy, James Kimmel, Mark N. Costa, Jack Tsai, Larry Nulton, Elissa Nulton, Alexandra Kimmel, Nathan J. Aguilar, Ashley Clayton and Maria O’Connell
The purpose of this paper is to gain understanding about the effectiveness of a forensic peer support program’s impact on reducing criminal recidivism. People with histories of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to gain understanding about the effectiveness of a forensic peer support program’s impact on reducing criminal recidivism. People with histories of mental illness returning to the community following incarceration face tremendous challenges in jails and prisons and in successful reentry to community. Transitioning from jails and prisons is fraught with additional challenges such as reconnecting or connecting with mental health and substance abuse treatment, finding adequate housing, finding employment, reuniting with family and friends, etc. Unfortunately, recidivism remains high, principally because of these challenges. Many state and local authorities have supported the development of the forensic peer specialist.
Design/methodology/approach
Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were conducted to examine time to re-incarceration.
Findings
The population served was determined to be a particularly high risk of re-incarceration population, when released from prison. All had a mental illness diagnosis, with 80 percent diagnosed with at least one serious mental illness, and more than 50 percent had three or more anterior incarcerations. Utilizing Kaplan–Meyer survival analysis, the chance of re-incarceration for participants after one year was of 21.7 percent. Surprisingly, in the first year after release from prison, participants did much better than those in the general US prison population when in terms of re-incarceration rates (21.7 percent vs 43.4 percent).
Originality/value
While preliminary findings of this approach, this study reaffirms the idea that forensic peer support programs are beneficial in reducing recidivism rates for people diagnosed with a mental illness coming out of prison, offering individuals supports to maintain their lives in the community.
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Luke Bonkiewicz, Alan M. Green, Kasey Moyer and Joseph Wright
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a police department's Post-Crisis Assistance Program (PCAP) for consumers who experienced a police-abated mental health crisis. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a police department's Post-Crisis Assistance Program (PCAP) for consumers who experienced a police-abated mental health crisis. The authors analyzed three questions: First, does PCAP reduce a consumer's future mental health calls for service (CFS)? Second, does PCAP reduce a consumer's odds of being arrested? Third, does PCAP reduce the odds of a consumer being taken into emergency protective custody (EPC)?
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use propensity score matching to analyze data from a sample of individuals (n=739) who experienced a police-abated mental health crisis.
Findings
The authors find that PCAP consumers generated fewer mental health CFS, were less likely to be arrested, and were less likely to be taken into EPC than non-PCAP consumers six months following a police-abated mental health crisis.
Research limitations/implications
The research only examined outcomes six months after a mental health crisis. The authors encourage future research to examine whether the benefits of PCAP persist over longer periods of time.
Practical implications
The study demonstrates that partnerships between police departments and local mental health groups can help police officers better serve citizens with mental health conditions.
Originality/Value
To the knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the impact of a PCAP for citizens experiencing police-abated mental health crises.
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Shimri Hadas Grundman, Neta Edri and Renana Stanger Elran
This paper aims to present a working model for using experiential knowledge in the work of lived experience practitioners within the mental health field.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a working model for using experiential knowledge in the work of lived experience practitioners within the mental health field.
Design/methodology/approach
The working model is constructed from three key elements, namely, components of lived experience, the Library of Life Experiences and the NISE technique for sharing experiential knowledge (NISE: need identification; inner identification; sharing experiential knowledge and interpersonal encounter).
Findings
The model will be described, followed by central themes that emerged from a pilot course that was taught in Israel in 2019 to a group of peers working in the mental health system. The central themes were: developing peer identity; sharing peer language; internalizing the working model; understanding the peer role; and awakening social consciousness.
Originality/value
The original working model and training course were co-produced and co-conducted by peer specialists and mental health professionals, for the use of lived experience practitioners.
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Keywords
The paper seeks to discuss the author's experience of peer support.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to discuss the author's experience of peer support.
Design/methodology/approach
The author provides an account of the introduction of specialist training for potential peer support workers within an NHS Trust.
Findings
The paper finds that training should not be provided unless it is known that jobs as peer support specialists can be created for people to move into.
Originality/value
It is important to recognise that what is now being called intentional peer support is a new professional development that has the potential to transform services if people are brave enough to take the plunge.
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Abigail Nelson and Carrie Shockley
Mental health frontline workers can and do provide fundamental support in the wellness of people with serious mental illness. The City University of New York offered a non‐credit…
Abstract
Purpose
Mental health frontline workers can and do provide fundamental support in the wellness of people with serious mental illness. The City University of New York offered a non‐credit Certificate in Wellness Coaching to this group. The purpose of this paper is to describe the certificate and the program outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data collected through course evaluations, reports, and observations to describe perceptions of personal and professional usefulness and applicability, as well as challenges.
Findings
Participants reported using wellness concepts personally and professionally and perceived personal development in communication and leadership. Participants and faculty identified internal and external supports and barriers to transitioning into the role of wellness coach.
Originality/value
The paper presents a replicable model which taught frontline workers wellness concepts that benefit themselves and consumers and helped participants identify ways to expand capacity within their mental health agencies.
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Grace Zeng, Donna Chung and Beverley McNamara
Over the past decade, the push for recovery-oriented services has birthed a growth in the recruitment of peer providers in mental health services: Persons who live with and manage…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the past decade, the push for recovery-oriented services has birthed a growth in the recruitment of peer providers in mental health services: Persons who live with and manage their mental health challenges and are employed to support persons currently using mental health services. The aim of this paper is to compare the responses of government and non-government organisations to the implementation of peer provision.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing a qualitative study design, 15 people who supervised peer providers or who were strategically involved in peer provision were recruited using snowball sampling. Participants completed an in-depth interview that explored how peer provision services operated at their organisation and factors that shaped the way peer provision operates. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using Moore's Strategic Triangle. Synthesised member checking and researcher triangulation ensued to establish trustworthiness.
Findings
The way in which peer provision operated sat along a continuum ranging from adoption (where practices are shaped by the recovery ethos) to co-option (where recovery work may be undertaken, but not shaped by the recovery ethos). Political and legal mandates that affected the operational capacities of each organisation shaped the way peer provision services operated.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of the study highlight the need to reconsider where peer provision services fit in the mental health system. Research investigating the value of peer provision services may attract the support of funders, service users and policy makers alike.
Originality/value
In employing Moore's strategic triangle to evaluate the alignment of policy (the authorising environment) with the operational capacity and practice of peer provision services (the task environment), this study found that organisational response to peer provision is largely influenced by political and legal mandates externally. The successful implementation of peer provision is mediated by effective supervision of peer providers.
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Liza Hopkins, Glenda Pedwell, Katie Wilson and Prunella Howell-Jay
The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the barriers and enablers to the implementation of youth peer support in a clinical mental health service. The development…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the barriers and enablers to the implementation of youth peer support in a clinical mental health service. The development of a lived experience workforce in mental health is a key component of policy at both the state and the federal level in Australia. Implementing a peer workforce within existing clinical services, however, can be a challenging task. Furthermore, implementing peer support in a youth mental health setting involves a further degree of complexity, involving a degree of care for young people being invited to provide peer support when they may be still early in their own recovery journey.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports on a formative evaluation of the beginning stages of implementation of a youth peer workforce within an existing clinical mental health service in Melbourne.
Findings
The project found that it was feasible and beneficial to implement youth peer support; however, significant challenges remain, including lack of appropriate training for young people, uncertainty amongst clinical staff about the boundaries of the peer role and the potential for “tokenism” in the face of slow cultural change across the whole service.
Originality/value
Very little evaluation has yet been undertaken into the effectiveness of implementing peer support in youth mental health services. This paper offers an opportunity to investigate where services may need to identify strengths and address difficulties when undertaking future implementation efforts.
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Jillian Cavanagh, Ying Wang, Hannah Meacham, Louise Byrne and Timothy Bartram
This paper aims to discuss the value of the Master of Library and Information Science degree from the perspective of a recent graduate and practicing academic librarian.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the value of the Master of Library and Information Science degree from the perspective of a recent graduate and practicing academic librarian.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a viewpoint supported by current literature and practical experience.
Findings
The author presents ideas for integrating theory into skills-based education and advocates for greater emphasis on technical skill development in Library and Information Science (LIS) education.
Practical implications
LIS educators may benefit from a recent graduate’s evaluation of LIS education because it relates to hireability and job performance.
Originality/value
The paper represents the author’s points of view.
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