title: An Innovative Model of Depression Care Delivery: Peer Mentors in Collaboration with a Mental Health Professional to Relieve Depression in Older Adults.
abstract: Traditional mental health services are not used by a majority of older adults with depression, suggesting a need for new methods of health service delivery. We conducted a pilot study using peer mentors to deliver depression care to older adults in collaboration with a mental health professional. We evaluated the acceptability of peer mentors to older adults and examined patient experiences of the intervention.
  
  
  
  Six peer mentors met 30 patients for 1 hour weekly for 8 weeks. A mental health professional provided an initial clinical evaluation as well as supervision and guidance to peer mentors concurrent with patient meetings. We measured depressive symptoms at baseline and after study completion, and depressive symptoms and working alliance at weekly peer-patient meetings. We also interviewed participants and peer mentors to assess their experiences of the intervention.
  
  
  
  Ninety-six percent of patients attended all eight meetings with the peer mentor and PHQ-9 scores decreased for 85% of patients. Patients formed strong, trusting relationships with peer mentors. Patients emphasized the importance of trust, of developing a strong relationship, and of the credibility and communication skills of the peer mentor. Participants described benefits such as feeling hopeful, and reported changes in attitude, behavior, and insight.
  
  
  
  Use of peer mentors working in collaboration with a mental health professional is promising as a model of depression care delivery for older adults. Testing of effectiveness is needed and processes of recruitment, role definition, and supervision should be further developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: jjoo1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Jin Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Seungyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Hawa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development
keywords: aging; counseling; health services; minority elderly; peer