How Peer Support Complements Clinical Practices-Lecture Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Patrick Hendry, Vice President for Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services for Mental Health America, discusses how peer support complements clinical practices in the field of mental health. Peer support refers to the assistance provided by individuals with lived experience of mental health disorders or substance use disorders to others facing similar challenges. Hendry explains that peer support specialists work in various clinical settings such as inpatient settings, crisis care units, emergency rooms, and integrated behavioral health and primary care settings. They provide social and emotional support, assistance in daily management, and linkage to care and community resources. Peer support has been shown to reduce re-hospitalization rates, relieve emotional stress in individuals receiving services, and lower overall healthcare costs. Hendry emphasizes the importance of effective supervision for peer support workers, which includes job and role clarification, performance expectations, and ongoing learning and growth. He also discusses the impact of peer support on organizational culture, noting that peers can change the culture of a clinical environment to become more recovery-oriented and person-centered. The speaker concludes by highlighting the positive benefits of peer support, such as increased hope, motivation, social networks, and enhanced quality of life for individuals receiving services.

Keywords

peer support

mental health

clinical practices

peer support specialists

re-hospitalization rates

supervision for peer support workers

organizational culture