BMJ Open. 2025 Aug 10;15(8):e094356. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094356.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Peer support in youth mental health settings holds promise as a developmentally appropriate and impactful initiative; however, research exploring implementation remains limited. To advance the field and strengthen future implementation efforts, the aim of the present study was to generate new understandings about how non-peer service providers working alongside youth peer support workers experience the peer support role in youth mental health settings.
DESIGN: Guided by interpretive description and tenets of a research community partnership model, semi-structured interviews were conducted with non-peer service providers (n=11) across three integrated youth services centres in British Columbia, Canada, from August to December 2020. Data were analysed inductively using a constant comparative approach to identify and construct themes.
RESULTS: Participants emphasised integration and supervision of youth peer support workers as essential for successful peer programming within integrated youth services, highlighting three interconnected themes: defining supervisory roles, envisioning role clarity and capacity and governance of youth peer support services.
CONCLUSIONS: Integrated youth services initiatives and peer-led agencies can play key roles-both directly and indirectly-to strengthen the governance and infrastructure of youth peer support.
PMID:40784762 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094356
