Peer specialists in suicide prevention: Possibilities and pitfalls

The emergence of peer specialists with histories of suicidality in mental health care services is a recent but scarcely researched societal phenomenon. The current study aimed to explore how peer specialists who have experienced suicidality (either attempted suicide or suicidal ideation) use their experiences to contribute to suicide prevention in mental health care services. Qualitative interviews with 20 peer specialists who have personally dealt with suicidality in their past were conducted. Interviewees perceived their work to have unique value in terms of their approach to making contact with suicidal care consumers on an emotional level, which was perceived to lead to less reluctance on the part of suicidal care consumers to talk about suicidality, as well as affect feelings of being acknowledged and heard. However, the lack of professional distance was perceived to carry several risks, including burdening clients with the peer specialists' own suicidal experiences, perceived reluctance of coworkers to let peer specialists work with suicidal clients, and the burden of working with suicidal clients for the peer specialists. Specific conditions that were perceived to be needed in order to work with suicidal clients consisted of personal distance to own process of recovery and suicidality, establishing boundaries with the team or colleagues for the peer specialists' work concerning suicide risk assessment, safety, privacy, and sharing responsibility. Further discussion between mental health care clinicians and peer specialists regarding the role of the peer specialist in suicide prevention is needed to further clarify and optimize their role. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).