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Purpose: This paper aims to explore the use of lived experience research in peer work. Design/methodology/approach: A suite of user-friendly and engaging lived experience research resources was introduced to consumers by peer workers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 33 consumer participants and five peer workers about their experiences. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The role of the peer workers appeared critical in ensuring that participants, despite their varied needs, preferences and backgrounds, derived optimum benefit from each resource. Features in resource delivery that promoted a positive experience included presenting the resources in the context of an existing relationship, providing clear explanations, going through resources together, encouraging reflection, taking enough time; and flexible delivery. Peer workers viewed the resources as potentially useful in their everyday peer work and as a valuable addition to their peer work toolkit. Practical implications: The benefit of lived experience research to consumers is likely to be optimised by supportive and thoughtful delivery of the resources. Peer workers have the skills and are in an ideal position to do this. Bringing lived experience research to consumers provides peer workers with a potentially unique and helpful approach for supporting and promoting recovery and is congruent with their overall practice. Originality/value: Lived experience research has the potential to benefit consumers directly but is rarely brought to their attention. This paper is the first to examine the potential role of peer workers in introducing learnings from lived experience research to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Assisting clients to achieve wellbeing, even in the presence of ongoing mental illness, should be a primary goal of mental health services. However, little is known about what wellbeing means for young people living with mental illness. The aim of this study is to explore the ways in which young Australians living with mental illness conceptualise their wellbeing. Methods: Five focus groups were conducted with young people (n=20; age range: 16-25 years) living with mental illness. Results were analysed qualitatively using constant comparative analysis. Results: Analysis of the data indicated that participants were describing two different but complementary types of concepts. We conceptualised these two types of concepts as 'building blocks' and 'foundations' of wellbeing, respectively. Five building blocks were identified, which together constituted wellbeing for participants: i) sense of self; ii) relationships; iii) sense of the future; iv) feelings and experiences; v) agency. These building blocks were supported or undermined by seven foundations: i) activities; ii) having things; iii) mental illness; iv) the past; v) coping strategies; vi) environmental supports and barriers; vii) personal characteristics. Conclusions: The findings support the use of a recovery paradigm for young people with mental illness. The framework presented can be used to assist young people to consider different aspects that make up their wellbeing and plan ways to address these by attending to multiple foundational factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer support facilitates recovery. However, little is known about the role of peer support within the Clubhouse model. This article reports on Clubhouse members' experiences of peer support and the outcomes they identify from engaging in this phenomenon. Grounded theory guided the study design involving 17 semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 Clubhouse members. Constant comparison and open coding were undertaken to identify underlying concepts within transcripts. A conceptual model of peer support was derived from Clubhouse members' experience. Four levels of peer support emerged: Social inclusion and belonging; shared achievement through doing; interdependency; and at the deepest level, intimacy. Peer support within Clubhouse is a multi-layered construct in terms of depth and nature of relationships. Clubhouse appears to contribute a unique tier within the layered construct of peer support. This tier is based on the sharing of achievement through working together on shared tasks within the work-ordered day Clubhouse structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]