Peer Support Service

The HealthRight peer support service aimed for peers to assist adults with long term mental illness to attend to their physical health needs Peer supporters were trained to assist people at 2 levels: 1. In mental health services to help people to find GPs and then make and attend GP appointments with them.  2. In the community to assist patients to deal with lifestyle issues and allied health and community services such as physiotherapy services, or recreation and sports groups.

The role of the peer supporters was to encourage and assist people to set achievable goals regarding their physical health, and to then help them to make and attend the necessary appointments and to access information and resources related to their physical health.

The Peer Support Program was trialled in two sites, in Perth Western Australia, from July 2006-December 2007.

Results showed:

• 9 of the 23 people who participated in the trial were supported to find a GP;
• 37.5% of the participants were diagnosed with previously unknown health problems during the trial;
• 6 people had given up smoking or were quitting smoking by the end of the trial;
• 11 reported that they were eating more fruit and vegetables;
• 9 reported that they were losing weight;
• 13 reported that they were exercising more frequently (Peer Supporters walked with 20 of the participants as part of their work); and
• 12 were introduced to community exercise facilities such as Curves Gym and the Ruah walking group.

The future of peer support looks bright. Consumers of Mental Health Services have benefited from both giving and receiving the service and the time is right for the implementation of on-going peer support work.

Read more

Download the Full Report on the Peer Support Trial 2007

Download Janes Peer Support Success story.

Download Dereks Story and find out more about the Peer Suppoter Role