The Role of Peer Support in Ending Social Exclusion and Loneliness-View Presentation Slides

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The American Psychiatric Association held a webinar titled "The Role of Peer Support in Ending Social Exclusion and Loneliness" on December 13, 2019, emphasizing the detrimental health impact of social isolation and advocating for peer support as a solution. The webinar highlighted various educational credits available for different professions.<br /><br />Key learning objectives included understanding how loneliness adversely affects mental and physical health, recognizing societal discrimination against those with psychiatric disorders, and evaluating the beneficial impacts of peer support in community integration.<br /><br />The webinar discussed evidence linking social exclusion to increased anxiety, depression, and physical health challenges, while connectedness can enhance longevity, mental health, and recovery rates. Social exclusion is often determined by cultural attitudes, with cultural norms significantly influencing experiences and responses to loneliness and mental health issues.<br /><br />Stigma, especially self-stigma, poses a barrier to accessing mental health services. Social media and online platforms were flagged as potential tools for forming supportive, geographically-dispersed communities. Peer support alleviates stigmatizing attitudes and fosters a sense of belonging by enabling individuals with lived experiences to provide mutual support.<br /><br />The Mental Health America (MHA) program "It's My Life: Peer Partners" was singled out as an effective peer-driven initiative combatting isolation. This program uses peer support, psychiatric rehabilitation, and self-directed care to assist individuals with mental health challenges, achieving notable outcomes such as reduced hospitalization rates and increased community engagement.<br /><br />The Temple Collaborative on Community Integration provides resources to facilitate community engagement for those with mental illnesses. It offers practical toolkits for peer specialists to support community inclusion and improve quality of life across multiple domains.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar underscored the critical role of peer support and community integration in enhancing mental health and reducing loneliness, advocating for proactive solutions and ongoing initiatives to expand these efforts within society.

Keywords

Peer Support

Social Exclusion

Loneliness

Mental Health

Community Integration

Stigma

Cultural Norms

Mental Health America

Online Communities

Psychiatric Rehabilitation