Using Peer Support in Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES): Background, Rationale and Methodology

Puschner, Bernd; Repper, Julie; Mahlke, Candelaria; Nixdorf, Rebecca; Basangwa, David; Nakku, Juliet; Ryan, Grace; Baillie, Dave; Shamba, Donat; Ramesh, Mary; Moran, Galia; Lachmann, Max; Kalha, Jasmine; Pathare, Soumitra; M�ller-Stierlin, Annabel; Slade, Mike

Abstract

Background: Peers are people with lived experience of mental illness. Peer support is an established intervention in which peers offer support to others with mental illness. A large proportion of people living with severe mental illness receive no care. The care gap is largest in low- and middle-income countries, with detrimental effects on individuals and societies. The global shortage of human resources for mental health is an important driver of the care gap. Peers are an under-used resource in global mental health.

Objectives: To describe rationale and methodology of an international multicentre study which will scale-up peer support for people with severe mental illness in high-, middle-, and low-income countries through mixed-methods implementation research.

Methods: UPSIDES is an international community of research and practice for peer support, including peer support workers, mental health researchers, and other relevant stakeholders in eight study sites across six countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. During the first two years of UPSIDES, a series of qualitative studies and systematic reviews will explore stakeholders’ perceptions and the current state of peer support at each site. Findings will be incorporated into a conceptual framework to guide the development of a culturally appropriate peer support intervention to be piloted across all study sites. All intervention and study materials will be translated according to internationally recognised guidelines.

Expected Impact: UPSIDES: will leverage the unique expertise of people with lived experience of mental illness to strengthen mental health systems in high-, middle- and low-income countries. UPSIDES will actively involve and empower service users and embed patient-centeredness, recovery orientation, human rights approaches, and community participation into services. The focus on capacity-building of peers may prove particularly valuable in low-resource settings in which shortages of human capital are most severe.

Citation

Puschner, B., Repper, J., Mahlke, C., Nixdorf, R., Basangwa, D., Nakku, J., Ryan, G., Baillie, D., Shamba, D., Ramesh, M., Moran, G., Lachmann, M., Kalha, J., Pathare, S., Müller-Stierlin, A., & Slade, M. (2019). Using Peer Support in Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES): Background, Rationale and Methodology. Annals of Global Health, 85(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.2435

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 8, 2019
• Journal: Annals of Global Health
• Electronic ISSN: 2214-9996
• Publisher: Ubiquity Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 85
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 53
• Pages: 1-10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.2435
• Keywords: peer support, severe mental illness, implementation science, global mental health, recovery
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1648738
• Publisher URL: https://agh.ubiquitypress.com/articles/10.5334/aogh.2435/
• Contract Date: Mar 14, 2019