title: Constructing a positive identity: A qualitative study of the driving forces of peer workers in mental health-care systems.
abstract: There is growing recognition in mental health for the perspective of individuals with lived experience of mental health problems and mental health service use. As peer workers, these individuals can use their specific experience to benefit and support peers and professional caregivers, and to participate at all levels of mental health-care systems. The aim of the present study was to develop a conceptual framework representing the driving forces of peer workers to fullfil their position in mental health-care systems. A qualitative interview approach was employed using principles of grounded theory. Over a period of 5 months in 2014-2015, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 peer workers in residential and community mental health-care systems. The emerged conceptual framework reveals that peer workers strive towards constructing a positive identity. This process is powered by driving forces reflecting a desire for normalization and an urge for self-preservation. Peer workers realize a meaningful employment by using their lived experience perspective as an asset, liberating themselves out of restrictive role patterns, and by breaking down stigma and taboo. As a precondition to engage in these normalization processes, peer workers perceive they need to secure their self-preservation by balancing the emergence of adverse emotional fluctuations. The conceptual framework can inform the development of work contexts in which peer workers have an authentic and meaningful contribution, while being offered sufficient support and learning opportunities to manage their well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Psychiatric Hospital Pittem, Pittem, Belgium.|Research Foundation-Flanders, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joeri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandewalle
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Psychiatric Hospital Pittem, Pittem, Belgium.|Department Health Care, VIVES University College, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debyser
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beeckman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Department Health Care, VIVES University College, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandecasteele
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Psychiatric Hospital Pittem, Pittem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deproost
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Nursing, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.|Department Health Care, VIVES University College, Roeselare, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: identity; mental health care; nurse; peer worker; qualitative research