Participation in Peer Support Services and Outcomes Related to Recovery

Objective: This article presents findings from a naturalistic study that explored the impact of peer support participation on recovery-related outcomes over a 6-month period. In particular, this study hoped to fill gaps in the literature regarding the process through which personal change occurs in peer support organizations. Method: Fifty people newly involved in services provided by Baltic Street AEH (Advocacy, Employment, Housing), a consumer-operated organization, participated in the study. Participants were interviewed at entry and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Attendance records were reviewed to determine the number of days attended, and the sample was divided into 2 categories: minimal or nonattenders (n = 25) and moderate or high attenders (n = 21). The relationship between attendance and outcomes related to recovery over time was examined using a mixed effect regression analysis, allowing data to be included for participants with at least 1 follow-up interview (n = 38). Results: Relative to minimal or nonattenders, moderate or high attenders showed statistically significant improvements over time in internalized stigma, self-esteem-self-efficacy, and community activism-autonomy. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in hopelessness, social functioning, symptom severity, coping with symptoms, or substance use. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: This study demonstrates the potential impact of engagement in peer support services on some subjective aspects of mental health recovery. Namely, change mechanisms could be hypothesized to include identity transformation (from patient to peer). Future directions should continue to investigate potential mechanisms of change with larger samples in randomized studies.