Peer Support Work
Elaine Browne
Peer Support Worker
REFOCUS
- REFOCUS is a three year Genio funded
initiative which involves partnership between
Mayo Mental Health Services, Advancing
Recovery Ireland, the HSE and RehabCare.
What is REFOCUS ABOUT?
- “Building a Life Beyond Illness”
- The person using the service is put at the centre of planning
and designing a service to suit their own individual needs.
- Implementing a personal recovery plan with a Planning
Facilitator.
- Refocus is about developing a team of natural and professional
supporters around the person.
- Refocus is about creating opportunities within the wider
community rather than depending soley on existing support
within the services.
- Refocus is about Recovery.
WHAT IS A PEER SUPPORT
WORKER?
- A PSW is a person who has lived
experience of a mental health
issue and is a trained
professional.
- A PSW has a deep
understanding of the impact a
mental health issue can have on
a person’s life.
- A PSW is an “expert by
experience”.
- A Peer Support Worker is open
about their personal experience
when working.
- A PSW is a guardian of Hope,
Control, Opportunity and
Recovery.
Why am I a Peer Support Worker?
- After a long struggle with fear, confusion, isolation and not
knowing what was happening me, the only escape from the
now physical pain was to end my life.
- Discovered by a friend, hospitalisation and diagnosis.
- Months in hospital kept me alive and allowed me some respite
after the struggle of existing within the world.
- Found that I had a mental health issue but still didn’t find the
will to live or have any hope for my life.
- Care was good but something was missing.
- After discharge, struggled with making life work and was
readmitted after another attempt on my life.
- This time decided to take responsibility for my own Recovery.
What a Peer Support Worker Does when Working.
- We Discover who the person is
beyond their diagnosis. In turn
the person goes through self
discovery.
- Listen, share, talk, stay silent,
be fully present, non
judgemental, hold hope for the
person, give information,
empower, discover, plan for the
future, set achievable goals,
shadow the person but never
“do for”.
- A PSW never gives advice as the
person becomes the expert in
their own recovery.
What is Recovery?
- Recovery is living a life that is not dictated by diagnosis or
presence or absence of symptoms of mental illness.
- Recovery is about gaining confidence and control.
- Recovery is at the individuals pace.
- Recovery can be 2 steps forward and 5 steps back!
- Recovery is about making “The Community your Support and
not The Support your Community”.
- Recovery is about building up relationships outside of the
services.
- Recovery is real for individuals.
- Recovery is sometimes realising that our fears and doubts can
hold a person back from recovery.
Does Peer Support Work?
- My Personal experience of a
peer in my life during my illness.
- How we see signs of progress in
participants of Refoces, hope,
control, self advocacy.
- A valued role as part of a team,
maybe a link that has been
missing in the services.
- PSW being the bridge to the
community.
- Not a co-dependant relationship
but eventually a dissolving
relationship.
Thank You
QUESTIONS?