“A peer support worker can really be there supporting the youth throughout the whole process”: a qualitative study exploring the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth

Harm Reduction Journal

Research

J. L. Henderson¹  Amanda Madeleine Howard²  Sarah Irving²  Ciara Toddington²  Anurada Amarasekera²  Violet Brockmann²  Miranda Tymoschuk²  Corinne Tallon²  Roxanne Turuba³  Steve Mathias⁴  Skye Barbic⁵ 

[1] Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, M6J 1H4, Toronto, ON, Canada;Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8Th Floor, M5T 1R8, Toronto, ON, Canada;Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, 80 Workman Way, M4J 1H4, Toronto, ON, Canada;Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Research, 1190 Hornby Street, 10th Floor, V6Z 2K5, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Centre for Health Evaluation Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Providence Research, 1190 Hornby Street, 10th Floor, V6Z 2K5, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Centre for Health Evaluation Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, BC, Canada;

关键词: Peer support;    Youth;    Adolescents;    Young adults;    Substance use;    Qualitative research;    Participatory action research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12954-023-00853-3

 received in 2022-11-07, accepted in 2023-08-20,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundYouth (ages 12–24) rarely access services and supports to address substance use concerns. Peer support can facilitate service engagement and has been associated with positive substance use recovery outcomes in adults, yet few studies have examined this role among youth specifically. As such, this qualitative study explored the role of peer support in providing substance use services to youth in British Columbia and how best to support them in their role.MethodsParticipatory action research methods were used by partnering with youth who had lived/living experience of substance use, including peer support workers, to co-design the research protocol and materials. An initial focus group and subsequent interviews were held with 18 peer support workers who provide services to youth (ages 12–24) based on their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using an inductive approach.ResultsPeer support workers' core experiences providing substance use services to youth centred around supporting youth throughout the whole process. This was accomplished by meeting youth where they are at, providing individualized care, and bridging the gap between other services and supports. However, participants experienced multiple organizational barriers hindering their ability to support youth and stressed the importance of having an employer who understands the work you are doing. This involved having someone advocating for the peer support role to promote collaboration, empowering peers to set boundaries and define their own role, and providing adequate training and mentorship. Finally, peer support workers described how their lived experience bridges connection and de-stigmatization at the individual, organizational, and community level, which was unique to their role.ConclusionsPeer support plays a unique role in youths’ substance use journeys, given their own lived experience and flexibility within their role. However, their position is often misunderstood by employers and other service providers, leaving peers with inadequate support, training, and mentorship to do their job. The findings from this study call for improved integration of peer support into service environments, as well as standardized training that is in-depth and continuous.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1