Using Peer Support to Empower Self-Management and Participation in Treatment for Individuals Who are Difficult to Engage-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The SMI Advisor webinar, led by Shereen Khan and Patrick Hendry, focused on empowering self-management and treatment participation for individuals often difficult to engage. The session, eligible for AMA and Continuing Education credits, highlighted the importance of peer support in overcoming trust barriers between patients and the healthcare system. The webinar detailed the considerable impact peer support has in building therapeutic relationships and enhancing patient participation in their treatment. Patrick Hendry, a seasoned expert in peer advocacy, elaborated on the challenges faced by individuals who resist re-involvement in traditional mental health systems due to past coercive experiences. He explained the crucial role peer support can play in transforming those perceptions through shared experiences and mutual understanding, thus fostering therapeutic alliances. The session stressed the need for peer specialists to employ transparency, honesty, and personal experience judiciously to build trust and engage those reluctant to participate in treatment voluntarily. Additionally, the presentation delved into the concepts of motivation and activation, emphasizing the importance of fostering individuals' internal motivation toward self-management and active participation in their health care decisions. The webinar also discussed strategies for re-engaging individuals who had been disengaged from services, highlighting the importance of patience and understanding in establishing effective connections. The overarching message was that peer support not only improves engagement and therapeutic outcomes but also supports a model of care centered around recovery and personal empowerment.

Keywords

peer support

self-management

treatment participation

therapeutic relationships

mental health

patient engagement

recovery model

personal empowerment

motivation

peer advocacy