Research, Reviews and Studies

close up. young woman sitting in a circle of her friends

This section includes some of the key research, reviews, and studies currently available pertinent to the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces. Providing supporting evidence regarding the importance of the Lived Experience Workforces, including excellent examples. It should be noted that the examples were developed at a point in time and some services may no longer be in operation.

Australian Research

DISCHARGED Evaluation – Perth, WA (2019)

Alternatives to Suicide is a different and emerging approach to the suicide prevention paradigm, using peer support groups to focus on connection and relationship-building. The groups are a space where people can share openly and authentically about their suicidal thoughts and feelings, without fear of a clinical intervention.

This research project evaluated the impact experienced by participants of DISCHARGED groups in Western Australia. The research was undertaken by two lived experience researchers and an academic researcher and investigated people’s experiences of DISCHARGED, and how they compared to their experiences of the mental health system. These findings are relevant to anyone with an interest in suicide prevention and/or peer support, including people with a lived experience of suicidal thoughts/actions, innovative service designers, mental health organisations, policy makers, and practitioners involved in the wellbeing of trans people.

The DISCHARGED Evaluation can be found here

Peer-Supported Transfer of Care (Peer-STOC) Evaluation – NSW (2022)

Peer-Supported Transfer of Care (Peer-STOC) is designed to provide peer-led and recovery-focused supports by qualified peer workers to people with mental health issues during a six-week period of transition to home or community after an inpatient admission. The Peer-STOC Program Evaluation has been completed following an 18-month independent co-designed and co-delivered evaluation process.

The evaluation found the Peer-STOC program reduced 28-day readmission rates, reduced hospitalisation over the 12 months following contact with Peer-STOC, led to improved community-based mental health service contacts, and improved consumers’ experiences of service and recovery outcomes.

NSW Health invested $7.92 million in the first three years of the program. Over the same three-year period Peer-STOC has been associated with savings to the NSW health system of at least $9.77 million which is equivalent to the release of 7,904 hospital bed days. This represents a net budget impact (saving) of $1.85 million over the first three years of the program, highlighting the remarkable return on investment of this peer-led service.

Peer-STOC program and peer work can be found here

Peer Support in Emergency Departments – Victoria (2020)

The provision of peer support work in Emergency Departments (EDs) is on the frontiers of mental health practice. Hospital EDs are often under-resourced and overwhelmed and individuals presenting with mental distress typically experience long wait times, sometimes much longer than those presenting for physical complaints, potentially exacerbating their distress. Peer support is increasingly used in the Australian mental health system and may play an important role in addressing the unmet needs for consumers and enhance the responsiveness of the ED service.1

This research project sought to develop a better understanding of how peer support work could be offered to people who attend the ED due to mental distress. This project was undertaken between January 2019 to March 2020 by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Deakin University, RMIT, Yale University, St Vincent’s Hospital and Mind Australia. The project was based on co-design principles and included people with lived experience in key decision-making roles.

The full research project can be found here

Peer Workforce Report – WA (2018)

This Report provides evidence-based guidance on how to support peer workforce growth and integration within the mental health and alcohol and other drug sectors, based on results of a multi-stakeholder study conducted by the WA Peer Supporters’ Network. This Report makes a unique contribution to applied peer work research through presenting multiple stakeholder perspectives on peer work. It considers the perceptions of individuals, families, and carers about the peer workforce, including extent of awareness, interest, access and experiences of peer work. It explores peer workers’ views about workplace factors that shape their satisfaction, wellbeing and retention in the role. It considers employers’ attitudes and readiness for peer workers and identifies what they perceive as barriers and enablers of peer workforce growth for their organisation.

This Report finds peer work carries extensive benefits for and demand by individuals, families and services and yet there is no demonstrable peer workforce growth in Western Australia. There is an urgent need for strengthened policy commitments, growth targets and strategies, tied to commissioning for peer work and greater support for essential capacity-building and safeguarding arrangements for peer workforce safety, equality, and retention in the workplace.

This Report also makes a unique contribution by presenting research that is designed, led and conducted by, and with peer workers.

The Report can be found here

Grounded Theory Study of Lived Experience Practitioners – Australia (2014)

Dr Louise Byrnes’ research found effective roles for Lived Experience practitioners are crucial to the success of mental health reform, embedding recovery principles in the sector and meaningful inclusion of consumer participation. However, the emergent lived experience workforce in Australia currently faces a vast range of barriers. Common barriers inhibit current effectiveness and the future potential of roles. Barriers included:

  • A lack of formal employment structures and awards
  • A lack of underpinning Lived Experience practitioners
  • Underdeveloped theory and training packages
  • Professional defensiveness or non-acceptance from non-lived experience colleagues
  • Stigma and discrimination in the workplace

Overall, the prevalence of barriers, including stigma (both seen and unseen), was so profound that to continue to be effective within the roles and to promote opportunities for future growth and evolution, participants regularly and knowingly risked their own wellbeing and recovery and made significant personal sacrifices.

Despite the barriers, the Lived Experience practitioner’s workforce is promoting beneficial outcomes for consumers and assisting in much-needed mental health reform. For best practice outcomes to be realised without compromising wellbeing, Lived Experience practitioners need to be supported in their roles with adequate workforce development, recovery-focused work environments, acceptance and collaboration by colleagues and reduced or eliminated stigma and discrimination. This will first require an identification of stigma that is presently ‘unseen’.

The plain English summary and recommendations can be found here

About the Author

Dr Louise Byrne is Australia’s leading researcher in peer work, with deep knowledge of issues relevant to lived experience mental health employment and the potential benefits of lived experience roles in reducing stigma and encouraging disclosure and discussion about mental health. Her work is informed by her own experiences of mental health diagnosis, service use and periods of healing. At this time when the global population is facing trauma on such a wide-scale, lived experience perspectives have unique answers and contributions to assist in resilience and recovery.

Dr Byrne’s work also includes:

  • Identifying barriers to change: The lived experience worker as a valued member of the mental health team.
  • Recovery as a Lived Experience Discipline: A Grounded Theory Study.
  • Taking a Gamble for High Rewards? Management Perspectives on the Value of Mental Health Peer Workers.
  • How much ‘lived experience’ is enough? Understanding mental health lived experience work from a management perspective.
  • Skin in the game: The professionalisation of lived experience roles in mental health.

All of Dr Byrne’s 81 publications can be found here

International Research

Lived Experience Leadership (Website)

Lived Experience Leadership features the findings of 12 years of research studies focused on the Lived Experience workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity about what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers.

It provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions and audio/visual resources. The website intends to grow to include larger collections of research as well as other key work.

The Lived Experience Leadership website can be found here

Evidence for Peer Support – Mental Health America 2018

Peer support is an evidence-based practice for individuals with mental health conditions or challenges. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence indicate peer support lowers the overall cost of mental health services by reducing re-hospitalisation rates and days spent in inpatient services, increasing the use of outpatient services. Peer support improves quality of life, increases and improves engagement with services, and increases whole health and self-management. This document identifies key outcomes of peer support services over a range of studies differentiated by program, geographic location, and year. Though many of the studies and programs listed below have some major programmatic differences, one thing is the same – they all demonstrate the value of peer support.

The full paper can be found here

Other sources of research, reviews and studies

Clearinghouses

Lived Experience Leadership Digital Library

The Lived Experience Leadership Digital Library is an initiative of the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum and the National Primary Health Network Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network with support from Mental Health Australia.

National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum Lived Experience Leadership Library

The Centre of Excellence in Peer Support (CEPS)

The Centre of Excellence in Peer Support (CEPS), housed by Mind Australia, serves as a pivotal online hub for mental health peer support, offering a comprehensive clearinghouse and resource centre. Launched in June 2011, CEPS was founded on the increasing recognition and demand for peer support among consumers, families, carers, and mental health professionals.

Centre of Excellence in Peer Support: File Repository

WA Peer Supporters’ Network (WAPSN) 

Established in 2014, the WA Peer Supporters’ Network is a non-profit initiative led by peer supporters to enhance peer support and workforce development in Western Australia. Hosted by Consumers of Mental Health WA and funded by the Mental Health Commission of WA, WAPSN offers a hub for resources including research, reviews, and studies, facilitating growth and collaboration within the peer support community.

Resources — WA Peer Supporters’ Network (wapsn.org.au)

Lived Experience Australia (LEA)

Lived Experience Australia makes a difference in systemic advocacy by being informed about the issues facing people with mental health issues, their families and carers and using this to influence mental health policy, planning and decision making at local, state and national levels.

Resources | Lived Experience Australia

Alcohol and Other Drug Sources

Drug Education Network (DEN)

Since its inception in 1986, DEN has evolved from a modest initiative into a contemporary and influential Tasmanian not-for-profit organisation. Today, it stands as a key provider of education, information, training, and resources on alcohol and other drugs, serving community members across all age groups.

All Resources (den.org.au)

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF)

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation emphasises the transformative impact of including individuals with lived experience in alcohol and other drug services, as outlined in their guide. Highlighting the benefits, such as creating a more welcoming environment and diminishing stigma, this approach is presented as crucial for enhancing service effectiveness. The guide offers practical insights and strategies for alcohol and other drug service providers to integrate lived experience into their services, aiming to boost engagement and treatment outcomes. For more information and to access this resource, visit “The power of lived experience – a quick guide for alcohol and drug services” at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

Books and Other Literature

References