Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida
Abstract Background In recent years the use of peer specialists in the delivery of mental health of care across the US has increased. Although data on the benefits of using peer specialists is limited and/or equivocal, states are making policy and funding decisions to support the expansion of peer s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-018-0239-6 |
| _version_ | 1828414630883491840 |
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| author | Daniel Castellanos Mayte Capo Diana Valderrama Melissa Jean-Francois Aniuska Luna |
| author_facet | Daniel Castellanos Mayte Capo Diana Valderrama Melissa Jean-Francois Aniuska Luna |
| author_sort | Daniel Castellanos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In recent years the use of peer specialists in the delivery of mental health of care across the US has increased. Although data on the benefits of using peer specialists is limited and/or equivocal, states are making policy and funding decisions to support the expansion of peer specialist services. This data is even more limited in the state of Florida where no studies were found to document the effect of peer specialists on mental health care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether local decisions to use peer specialists can be supported through the measurement of outcomes of service utilization and mental health functioning when peer specialists are involved in the treatment of individuals living with serious mental illness. Methods The study was conducted using service data collected by South Florida Behavioral Health Network (SFBHN). SFBHN is the Managing Entity for publicly funded mental health and substance abuse services in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in Florida. We compared mental health outcomes and service utilization between individuals who received peer specialist services (n = 367) and a treatment as usual group (n = 1468) matched on gender, age and severity of diagnosis in the period July 2013 and June 2015. Multilevel models were used to evaluate the functioning outcomes between the groups. Service utilization was assessed using negative binomial regression. Results Individuals in the treatment group receiving peer specialist services utilized more ambulatory/lower levels of care services and had more frequent crisis stabilization unit admissions. Those in the treatment group also displayed more functional difficulties with a variety of practical activities, employment and housing and violent temper, hostility, threatening behaviors. Conclusions The findings of the study further support existing evidence documenting the mixed benefits of using peer services compared to treatment as usual care. Policy makers and other stakeholders are encouraged to advance mental health recovery by examining outcomes more comprehensively. Future research should include examination of the subjective benefits of peer support for recipients, understanding the impact on service utilization and a better definition of the roles, supervision and expectations of peer support programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:29:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c7c4432b63b429e83570c5b4be40909 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:29:59Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c7c4432b63b429e83570c5b4be409092022-12-22T01:47:00ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582018-10-011211910.1186/s13033-018-0239-6Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South FloridaDaniel Castellanos0Mayte Capo1Diana Valderrama2Melissa Jean-Francois3Aniuska Luna4Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International UniversitySouth Florida Behavioral Health NetworkSouth Florida Behavioral Health NetworkRobert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International UniversityAbstract Background In recent years the use of peer specialists in the delivery of mental health of care across the US has increased. Although data on the benefits of using peer specialists is limited and/or equivocal, states are making policy and funding decisions to support the expansion of peer specialist services. This data is even more limited in the state of Florida where no studies were found to document the effect of peer specialists on mental health care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether local decisions to use peer specialists can be supported through the measurement of outcomes of service utilization and mental health functioning when peer specialists are involved in the treatment of individuals living with serious mental illness. Methods The study was conducted using service data collected by South Florida Behavioral Health Network (SFBHN). SFBHN is the Managing Entity for publicly funded mental health and substance abuse services in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in Florida. We compared mental health outcomes and service utilization between individuals who received peer specialist services (n = 367) and a treatment as usual group (n = 1468) matched on gender, age and severity of diagnosis in the period July 2013 and June 2015. Multilevel models were used to evaluate the functioning outcomes between the groups. Service utilization was assessed using negative binomial regression. Results Individuals in the treatment group receiving peer specialist services utilized more ambulatory/lower levels of care services and had more frequent crisis stabilization unit admissions. Those in the treatment group also displayed more functional difficulties with a variety of practical activities, employment and housing and violent temper, hostility, threatening behaviors. Conclusions The findings of the study further support existing evidence documenting the mixed benefits of using peer services compared to treatment as usual care. Policy makers and other stakeholders are encouraged to advance mental health recovery by examining outcomes more comprehensively. Future research should include examination of the subjective benefits of peer support for recipients, understanding the impact on service utilization and a better definition of the roles, supervision and expectations of peer support programs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-018-0239-6Peer specialistsMental healthOutcomes |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Castellanos Mayte Capo Diana Valderrama Melissa Jean-Francois Aniuska Luna Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida International Journal of Mental Health Systems Peer specialists Mental health Outcomes |
| title | Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida |
| title_full | Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida |
| title_fullStr | Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida |
| title_short | Relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in South Florida |
| title_sort | relationship of peer specialists to mental health outcomes in south florida |
| topic | Peer specialists Mental health Outcomes |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-018-0239-6 |
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