Mental Health Service Users As Peer Providers In Hawai‘i: Understanding Recovery Paths And Perspectives
Date
2018-05
Authors
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Narrator
Transcriber
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Hawaii’s mental health
service users in becoming certified peer providers. Qualitative methods were used to understand
the perspectives of eight (8) mental health service users trained and credentialed through the
Hawaii Certified Peer Specialist (HCPS) program. Data were analyzed at two levels. At the first
level, an inductive approach using grounded theory identified four themes across participants: (1)
prior to training and certification, the prospect of participation instilled hope of moving forward
in their own recovery and helping others with similar lived experiences; (2) subsequent to
training and certification, the lack of follow-up support services and few employment
opportunities resulted in feelings of frustration and hopelessness; (3) ongoing systemic stigma
and discrimination maintain barriers to integration; and (4) completion of the program increased
their confidence, decreased their feelings of isolation, increased their empathy towards others
with mental illness, and broadened their perspectives and worldviews. At the second level,
themes from the first-level analysis were examined through the lens of Critical Disability Theory.
Together, the first and second-level analysis provide unique insights into potential motivation
factors for Hawaii’s mental health service users applying to the HCPS program. Findings also
highlight organizational barriers that hinder the integration of peer providers as employees in
traditional mental health service settings. Implications for policy, social work practice, and future
research are discussed.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Related To (URI)
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.