School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, Duncan Macmillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA, UK.
J Ment Health. 2011 Aug;20(4):392-411. doi: 10.3109/09638237.2011.583947.
Although mutual support and self-help groups based on shared experience play a large part in recovery, the employment of peer support workers (PSWs) in mental health services is a recent development. However, peer support has been implemented outside the UK and is showing great promise in facilitating recovery.
This article aims to review the literature on PSWs employed in mental health services to provide a description of the development, impact and challenges presented by the employment of PSWs and to inform implementation in the UK.
An inclusive search of published and grey literature was undertaken to identify all studies of intentional peer support in mental health services. Articles were summarised and findings analysed.
The literature demonstrates that PSWs can lead to a reduction in admissions among those with whom they work. Additionally, associated improvements have been reported on numerous issues that can impact on the lives of people with mental health problems.
PSWs have the potential to drive through recovery-focused changes in services. However, many challenges are involved in the development of peer support. Careful training, supervision and management of all involved are required.
尽管基于共同经验的互助和自助团体在康复中起着重要作用，但同伴支持工作者（PSW）在精神卫生服务中的使用是最近才出现的。然而，同伴支持在英国以外的地方已经得到了实施，并在促进康复方面显示出巨大的潜力。
本文旨在回顾精神卫生服务中使用同伴支持工作者的文献，描述同伴支持工作者的使用带来的发展、影响和挑战，为英国的实施提供信息。
对已发表和灰色文献进行全面检索，以确定所有关于精神卫生服务中有意的同伴支持的研究。对文章进行总结，并分析研究结果。
文献表明，同伴支持工作者可以减少与他们一起工作的人的住院率。此外，还报告了与许多可能影响精神健康问题患者生活的问题相关的改善。
同伴支持工作者有可能推动以康复为重点的服务变革。然而，同伴支持的发展涉及许多挑战。需要对所有相关人员进行仔细的培训、监督和管理。
