The socio-relational focus of youth peer support workers (YPSWs) poses a challenge when YPSWs are embedded in medical oriented contexts common to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)... Show moreThe socio-relational focus of youth peer support workers (YPSWs) poses a challenge when YPSWs are embedded in medical oriented contexts common to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS); as it requires YPSWs to find a balance between being a peer on one hand, and adhering to professional boundaries and medical standards set out by CAMHS on the other. To create a suitable position for YPSWs in CAMHS, this study investigated the unique socio-relational contributions YPSWs can make to CAMHS in addition to clinicians, and identified how these contributions can be embedded within CAMHS. This study reports on 37 semi-structured interviews conducted in the Netherlands with youth (n = 10), YPSWs (n = 10), and clinicians (n = 17). Overall, the unique socio-relational contributions YPSWs can make include: their ability to build authentic trusting relationships with youth by providing empowerment, promoting autonomy, valuing stillness in recovery, reducing isolation, recognizing strengths, and navigating life inside and outside of (residential) mental healthcare and beyond classification. Moreover, prerequisites to safeguard the integration of YPSWs and these socio-relational contributions were also identified, including YPSWs achieving stability in recovery, recent lived experiences with mental health challenges, and organizational support in terms of suitable treatment climate, resources to enhance flexibility of YPSWs, and shared goals regarding youth peer support work. Overall, YPSWs view youth holistically and foster a connection with youth based on youthfulness and recent lived experience. Involving YPSWs is an important step forward to drive positive transformation in CAMHS. Show less
Beer, C.R.M. de; Domburgh, L. van; Vermeiren, R.R.J.M.; Vreugd, M. de; Nooteboom, L.A. 2023
The involvement of youth peer workers (YPSWs) in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) stimulates hope, destigmatization, and more culturally and developmentally appropriate support.... Show moreThe involvement of youth peer workers (YPSWs) in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) stimulates hope, destigmatization, and more culturally and developmentally appropriate support. Nevertheless, the collaboration between YPSWs and non-peer colleagues remains challenging, as it requires services to embed a new type of expert into practice. To stimulate the involvement of YPSWs in practice, this study reports on 27 semi-structured interviews with YPSWs and non-peer colleagues to provide insight into the barriers and facilitators in the collaboration process. The study took place in the Netherlands. A total of 10 interviews with YPSWs, and 17 interviews with non-peer colleagues in different healthcare occupations in CAMHS were conducted. Overall, the participants perceived relatively more barriers compared to facilitators in the collaboration process. Barriers to operate efficiently with YPSWs in multidisciplinary teams included: condescending attitudes and professional stigma towards YPSWs; concerns for YPSW boundaries; bureaucratic and clinical language usage by non-peer colleagues; conflicts due to different sets of expertise; and, lack of role clarity and guidelines for YPSWs. To improve the partnership between YPSWs and non-peer colleagues, participants described the importance of supervision and monitoring of YPSW activities. Moreover, participants also stressed the need for clear guidelines, and introduction and evaluation sessions to facilitate the collaboration process. While YPSWs seem to be an asset to CAMHS, there are a number of barriers to overcome. To overcome these barriers, organizational commitment, supervision (especially from peer colleagues), flexibility by non-peer colleagues, training non-peer staff to support YPSWs, and consistent evaluation of the implementation of YPSWs in services is recommended. Show less
