Topic:

Whether receiving or giving peer support is beneficial for persons with mental health issues.

Methodology:

Data collected on 628 (396 males and 232 females) individuals in 51 different vocational and psychiatric rehabilitation centers based on testing social interaction, equity, and empowering hypotheses to determine effects and benefits through the use of various daily activities. Dependent variables (self-esteem and self-efficacy) were measured on the individuals. The independent variables were single-item questions to measure the balance of support. Previous psychiatric inpatient stays were measured against residential care as control measures. The research was conducted in a natural occurring setting among the differing locations.

Article Summary

The concept of empowering mentally challenged individuals to learn peer support techniques has been considered appropriate and helpful to the person. However, the authors of this article recognize the limited amount of research on whether giving or receiving support is beneficial or detrimental to the self-esteem of persons with mental health problems. Historically mental health counselor relationships with patients prohibit the therapist from sharing their problems with the client, preventing the development of a balanced support relationship to develop (p. 437).

The benefits of a balanced support system is widely accepted; however for individuals with mental health problems the experiences are not the same as they are within a normal social peer group. The peer group in mental health individuals means the individuals are all chronically mentally ill so the dynamics differ.  Receiving support can be associated with increased distress and has the potential to be a threat to self-esteem when it creates feelings of dependence, inferiority or failure (p. 438). The basic human need of being important and being able to provide support for another is beneficial to each of us. The main problem with this is recognizing when the giving of the person becomes too much or too overwhelming, creating negative feelings.

Conclusion

The study concludes the previously documented importance for peer group interaction for chronically mentally ill patients. The study further concludes the importance of peer-support groups functioning in a balanced manner for enhancement of self-esteem and self-efficacy. Support balance is a direct link to positive self-ego feelings. This coupled with the individuals being a direct support provider are directly connected to self-esteem and self-efficacy for individuals suffering from chronic mental illness.