An evaluation of a suicide bereavement peer support program.
Peer support, a cornerstone in recovery programs for mental illness and addiction, has not been widely applied to service programs for survivors of suicide. In 2004-2006 Canadian Mental Health Association Suicide Services in Calgary, Alberta, introduced the Peer Support Program for adults, an adjunct to conventional individual and group intervention. This article reports on a mixed-methods evaluation of the Peer Support Program. Hogan's Grief Response Checklist and the qualitative data tracked positive outcomes for both the peer supporters and the clients. This study challenges the unspoken assumption that survivors of suicide, due to their vulnerability, require the services of highly skilled professionals and would not be in a position to offer unsupervised support to peers. Rather it supports an intervention protocol that consists of peer supporters and professionals working collaboratively to offer cost-effective, client-centered services.
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. cabarlow@ucalgary.ca
Constance A
CA
Barlow
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jeannette Waegemakers
JW
Schiff
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Urmil
U
Chugh
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dixie
D
Rawlinson
Canadian Mental Health Association Suicide Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Elizabeth
E
Hides
Canadian Mental Health Association Suicide Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Judy
J
Leith
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*