Abstract
Objectives:
The aim of this rapid scoping review was to provide a summary of the available evidence on the development and implementation of peer support work in mental health services. The specific objectives were: to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature on peer support work; and identify how such work may be best implemented.
Methods:
A rapid scoping review was identified as the most appropriate approach to reviewing the literature mainly because the objectives of this review were relatively broad and there was a short timeframe. In a rapid scoping review the data extraction and reporting are focused and limited to provide an overview of existing evidence.
Results:
From the initial database results of 7406 records, 663 were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. The most relevant of these were then selected (n = 26) to be reported in this review with existing reviews of the research evidence (n = 7) being prioritised. The findings were organised into a number of sections: definitions, values and the role; development and implementation of peer support work; experiences of peer support workers; perceptions of others about peer support work; recruitment of peer support workers; training; supervision and support; and research on effectiveness.
Conclusions:
There are excellent sources of guidance, considerable qualitative research about experiences and some encouraging, but limited, findings about the impact of peer support work specifically on recovery-oriented outcomes. There is a need for further rigorous research on the key aspects and effectiveness of peer support work.
The aim of this rapid scoping review was to provide a summary of the available evidence on the development and implementation of peer support work in mental health services. The specific objectives were: to undertake a comprehensive review of the literature on peer support work; and identify how such work may be best implemented.
Methods:
A rapid scoping review was identified as the most appropriate approach to reviewing the literature mainly because the objectives of this review were relatively broad and there was a short timeframe. In a rapid scoping review the data extraction and reporting are focused and limited to provide an overview of existing evidence.
Results:
From the initial database results of 7406 records, 663 were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. The most relevant of these were then selected (n = 26) to be reported in this review with existing reviews of the research evidence (n = 7) being prioritised. The findings were organised into a number of sections: definitions, values and the role; development and implementation of peer support work; experiences of peer support workers; perceptions of others about peer support work; recruitment of peer support workers; training; supervision and support; and research on effectiveness.
Conclusions:
There are excellent sources of guidance, considerable qualitative research about experiences and some encouraging, but limited, findings about the impact of peer support work specifically on recovery-oriented outcomes. There is a need for further rigorous research on the key aspects and effectiveness of peer support work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine |
| Early online date | 23 May 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Early online date - 23 May 2025 |
Keywords
- mental health
- mental health services
- peer support
Access to Document
- The role of peer support work in recovery-oriented services: a rapid scoping review
Copyright 2025 the authors. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.