The document outlines a proposal to establish a peer support service in Mayo. It defines peer support workers as having personal experience of mental health issues and working to promote recovery through shared understanding. Research shows peer support leads to better community integration, hope, and satisfaction for service users. The conclusion is that peer support is needed in Mayo, will benefit service users and reduce relapse, and enhance lives by bridging gaps between providers, families, and communities. Next steps proposed are meeting with management, submitting a proposal to an organization, and forming an implementation group.

1. Mayo DCU Group 2011
Presented by: Mary Kennedy
Peter Kelly
Gerard Murray
Mentor: Clem McLoughlin

2. Background
The following presentation outlines an evaluation undertaken by our
team to establish a professional peer support service in the Mayo
region. This project was based on a report conducted by the
department of Health and Children entitled “A Vision for
Change” (2006) which recommends that:
 “Service users and carers should participate at all levels of the
mental health system”.
 It also states “Make user involvement the norm: there needs to be a
willingness and acceptance from professionals that service users
have a right to be involved and this should be built automatically
into their ways of working”.

3. Definition of Peer Support
Worker
A peer support worker can be characterised as a person who:
 Has had personal experience of mental health difficulties.
 Who works with service users with similar difficulties in order to aid
recovery through promoting hope and providing support based on
common experiences.
 Can better relate to the service user and consequently offer more
empathy and validation.
Is considered “An expert by Experience”

(Dr. Edmund Molloy Consultant
Psychologist)

4. Rational for Peer Support
Research into mental health initiatives which are inclusive of peer
support have shown:
 Better opportunities for reintegration and independence of service
users into the community. (Vision for Change 2006)
 More support, insight, hope, empathy, confidence and a fresh
perspective from involvement with their peer support worker (The
Education of the Delivery of Mental Health Peer Support Worker – Scottish Government)
 A higher level of satisfaction along with a significant improvement in
general wellbeing and a higher quality of life (The Mental Health Commission
- New Zealand)
 Peer support can help promote a better understanding between
staff, family and service users.
 The use of peer support workers has proven to reduce the use of
mental health services thus promoting cost savings.

5. Evidence that peer supports
work
 My peer support worker is the genuine article who has
walked the walk so she can talk the talk. She is an
inspiration and gives me hope.
She relates to a person’s potential and call forth
greatness.” (Janet Peters, IIMHL Project Director, New
Zealand, 2010)
 “If I had met a Peer Worker in the early days of my
diagnosis, ten years of my life may not have been lost.”
(Comment made by “Introduction to Peer Work” Course
Participant, 2006) (www.peerwork.org.au/)

6. Conclusion
From our research it is clear that:
 There is a universal understanding that peer support workers are needed in
Mayo Mental Health Services
 Potential concerns amongst HSE staff can be eliminated through
communication of the Peer Support Worker role.
 This role will benefit the recover of service users and help reduce the
workload of the mental health system through a lessening of repetitive
relapse.
 Will enhance the lives of service users and bridge the gap between service
providers and families.
 Will benefit the service by having members on the multidisciplinary team
who are “experts by experience”.

7. Pathway to peer support

8. Next Steps
 Met with management of Mayo
Mental Health Services.
 ProSPeR (Peer Support to promote
recovery) submitted to Genio.
 Implementation group to bring Peer
Support to reality.
 Peer Support worker for relatives.

9. DCU Pathways

10. MAYO DCU GROUP 2011
 INCLUSIVE