Shorey Shefaly, Seow Jeremy Soon Leong, Mahendran Rathi, Wee Geok Hua, Goh Lee Gan, Kua Ee Heok
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, Singapore, 117597, Singapore, 65 65163320.
Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
JMIR Aging. 2025 Jun 13;8:e71810. doi: 10.2196/71810.
The rising prevalence of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety among the aging population underscores the need for accessible and effective psychosocial support, particularly for community-dwelling older adults who face barriers like social stigma and limited mental health literacy. Peer volunteers have emerged as a promising resource to support these individuals; yet, they often lack the requisite training for effective intervention.
This study aims to explore the experiences of peer volunteers who participated in a Psychological First Aid training program.
Using a descriptive qualitative research design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 older adults between September and October 2024, and data were thematically analyzed.
Three themes were identified: (1) dimensions of volunteerism from motivations to resistance, (2) empowerment through collaborative learning, and (3) recommendations for designing inclusive, holistic training programs.
The findings of this study showed positive outcomes such as personal growth and strengthened social connections among participants. However, enhancements in teaching methods, logistical arrangements, and session regularity are recommended to optimize the Psychological First Aid program. These insights can guide the development of more robust training models to support both peer volunteers and the older adult communities they serve.
抑郁症和焦虑症等心理健康问题在老年人群中的患病率不断上升，这凸显了获得可及且有效的心理社会支持的必要性，特别是对于面临社会污名和心理健康知识有限等障碍的社区居家老年人而言。同伴志愿者已成为支持这些人的一种有前景的资源；然而，他们往往缺乏有效干预所需的培训。
本研究旨在探讨参与心理急救培训项目的同伴志愿者的经历。
采用描述性定性研究设计，于2024年9月至10月对13名老年人进行了半结构化访谈，并对数据进行了主题分析。
确定了三个主题：(1) 志愿服务的维度，从动机到阻力；(2) 通过合作学习获得赋权；(3) 设计包容性、整体性培训项目的建议。
本研究结果显示出积极成果，如参与者的个人成长和社会联系增强。然而，建议改进教学方法、后勤安排和课程规律性，以优化心理急救项目。这些见解可指导开发更强大的培训模式，以支持同伴志愿者及其服务的老年社区。
