Experts by Experience: Peer Support and its Use with the Homeless
Open Access
- 30 June 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Community Mental Health Journal
- Vol. 53 (5), 598-612
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0102-2
Abstract
The homeless population has complex needs. Peers with experience of homelessness offer unique perspectives in supporting those experiencing homelessness. Peer support fostered and developed by professional organisations, termed intentional peer support (IPS), formalises this process. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of IPS as an intervention with young adults and adult homeless persons (including streetdwelling and those within services). PyscINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and CINAHL were searched, resulting in ten studies, involving 1,829 participants. Peer support has significant impacts on quality of life, drug/alcohol use, and social support. Common elements of peer support are identified, suggesting possible processes that underlie effective peer support. Shared experiences, role modelling, and social support are suggested to be vital aspects of peer support and moderate changes in homeless clients. One study was deemed to have moderate/high quality; the remaining studies had low and moderate quality. Limitations of each are discussed.This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Guidelines for peer support in high‐risk organizations: An international consensus study using the delphi methodJournal of Traumatic Stress, 2012
- Mobilizing homeless youth for HIV prevention: a social network analysis of the acceptability of a face-to-face and online social networking interventionHealth Education Research, 2012
- Mentorship for Alcohol Problems (MAP): A Peer to Peer Modular Intervention for OutpatientsAlcohol and Alcoholism, 2011
- A review of the literature on peer support in mental health servicesJournal of Mental Health, 2011
- Homelessness is a healthcare issueJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2010
- Piloting a Peer-Driven Intervention Model to Increase Access and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and HIV Care among Street-Entrenched HIV-Positive Women in VancouverAIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2009
- Effectiveness of a peer‐support community in addiction recovery: participation as interventionOccupational Therapy International, 2008
- Peer Support Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness: A Report From the FieldSchizophrenia Bulletin, 2005
- Long-Term Effectiveness of a Peer-Based Intervention to Promote Condom and Contraceptive Use among HIV-Positive and at-Risk WomenPublic Health Reports, 2001
- Evaluation of a Peer-Led Drug Abuse Risk Reduction Project for Runaway/Homeless YouthsJournal of Drug Education, 1995