Establishing a Research Agenda for Understanding the Role and Impact of Mental Health Peer Specialists
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Published on: June 6, 2020
Matthew Chinman1, D Keith McInnes1, Susan Eisen1
1Dr. Chinman is with the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh. Dr. McInnes is with the Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, where Dr. Eisen, an independent consultant, was formerly affiliated. He is also with the Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, where Dr. Eisen was also affiliated. Dr. Ellison is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Dr. Farkas is with the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Sargent College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston. Mr. Armstrong is with the Errera Community Care Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven. Dr. Resnick is with the Veterans Integrated Service Network 1, MIRECC, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, and the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Abstract:
Mental health peer specialists are individuals with serious mental illnesses who receive training to use their lived experiences to help others with serious mental illnesses in clinical settings. This Open Forum discusses the state of the research for mental health peer specialists and suggests a research agenda to advance the field. Studies have suggested that peer specialists vary widely in their roles, settings, and theoretical orientations. Theories of action have been proposed, but none have been tested. Outcome studies have shown benefits of peer specialists; however, many studies have methodological shortcomings. Qualitative descriptions of peer specialists are plentiful but lack grounding in implementation science frameworks. A research agenda advancing the field could include empirically testing theoretical mechanisms of peer specialists, developing a measure of peer specialist fidelity, conducting more rigorous outcomes studies, involving peer specialists in executing the research, and assessing various factors that influence implementing peer specialist services and testing strategies that could address those factors.
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