Empowering Peer Support Workers in Mental Health Service Delivery

Studies from the USA and Australia acknowledge the unique contribution that Peer SupportWork (PSW) makes to the mental health system and to the recovery of Persons With MentalIllnesses (PWMI) that are served within it. Given the paucity of literature in the Australiancontext, it is imperative that t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Zeng, Grace
Other Authors: The Advisory Board of the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association
Format: Conference Paper
Published: AST Management Pty Ltd 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://anzmh.asn.au/conference/IMH_2012.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29251
Description
Summary:Studies from the USA and Australia acknowledge the unique contribution that Peer SupportWork (PSW) makes to the mental health system and to the recovery of Persons With MentalIllnesses (PWMI) that are served within it. Given the paucity of literature in the Australiancontext, it is imperative that the challenges faced by PSWs in their role be investigated andaddressed, in order to sustain and develop the existence of peer support services inAustralia. The aim of this presentation is to: (1) Describe the challenges of PSW; (2)Describe strategies undertaken by supervisors to empower PSWs at three different levels(grassroots, local organisations and systemic); (3) Propose a way forward to ensuresustainability of PSW’s contribution to service provision.