Peer Respite Houses: A Safe and Welcoming Alternative to Crisis Care-handout: slides

handout: slides_s3213302-2

Pdf Summary

Peer Respite Houses are safe and welcoming alternatives to traditional crisis care for individuals with serious mental illness. These houses provide peer support from individuals who have lived experience with mental health disorders. The Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI), implemented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), supports and promotes the use of peer respites as a form of crisis diversion.<br /><br />Peer support in behavioral health refers to individuals who share their experiences of living with psychiatric disorders or addiction. Peer respite houses offer services such as one-on-one support, support groups, self-help resources, respite, and skill-building. They focus on personal responsibility, empowerment, mutuality, and self-determination, creating a non-clinical and trauma-informed environment.<br /><br />The staffing of peer respites includes trained individuals who have undergone programs like Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Peer Specialist, Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). The training covers topics such as communication skills, cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and substance use harm reduction.<br /><br />Access to peer respites can be through self-referral, family, or agency referral. Guests in peer respites have reported positive experiences, feeling supported, comfortable, and connected to a community.<br /><br />Research on peer respites has shown positive outcomes, including a reduction in the use of inpatient and emergency services. However, there are still gaps in research, and further studies are needed to establish control or comparison groups and adopt participatory research methods.<br /><br />Overall, peer respites provide a cost-effective and empowering alternative to crisis care for individuals with serious mental illness. With approximately 34 peer respites in the US, these facilities offer a supportive and compassionate environment for individuals experiencing a crisis.

Keywords

Peer Respite Houses

Serious Mental Illness

Peer Support

Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness

American Psychiatric Association

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Behavioral Health

Trauma-Informed Care

Peer Specialist

Crisis Diversion