Peer Support Survey Results
At the end of 1996, co-ordinators of 37 peer support teams from Australia and New Zealand were surveyed by Michael Tunnecliffe and Robyn Robinson on the functioning of their program. The following is a partial summary of the results. A more detailed report will be completed and made available during the second half of this year. Please note that with some questions, more than one option applied, therefore, percentages may total more than 100.
1a. What started your peer support program?
60%: Awareness raised by internal factors (Occ'Health, etc).
33%: Response to a major incident.
7%: Influence of other organisations.
1b. Who, or which people were responsible for getting the peer support program underway?
73%: Initiative by specific people.
25%: Management initiative.
2. How were your peer supporters selected?
Responses to this question covered 14 combinations of the following:
- CIS briefing or training course
- Open advertisement
- Structured application forms
Interviews by:
- MHP's
- peers
- other staff
- management
- peers
- colleagues
- supervisor
Two unique methods were also mentioned:
- All who apply are accepted into the peer support training. The selection of peer supporters is then made after the training is completed.
- Management appoint peer supporters.
3. How long was your team's initial peer support training?
7%: One day.
51%: Two days.
13%: Three days.
16%: Four days.
13%: Five or more days.
4. How many hours of follow-up peer support training is done with your team per year?
20%: Less than 10 hours.
48%: 10 to 20 hours.
16%: More than 20 hours.
16%: Not stated.
5. What activities do your peer supporters undertake?
100%: Give one to one support.
80%: Involvement in defusing and/or debriefings.
60%: Involvement in awareness raising and training.
50% Family support.
6a. Does your team cover work and non-work stress issues?
87%: Yes
13%: No
6b. Assisting people in stress from other organisations?
35%: Yes
65%: No
6c. Assisting community members after stressful events?
20%: Yes
80%: No
7. How much management support does your peer support program have?
30%: Very high.
20%: High.
30%: Moderate.
12%: Very little.
5%: Varies across the organisation.
3%: None
8. What changes in support have occurred since your program started?
33%: Increase in management support.
8%: No change.
16%: Decrease in management support.
14%: Greater general acceptance.
10%: No response.
9. How is your team co-ordinator appointed?
38%: Elected by peer supporters.
32%: Appointed by management.
12%: We find a volunteer.
18%: Other ways.
10a. Does your team have a "code of ethics" or similar guidelines?
78%: Yes.
22%: No.
10b. If "Yes", are peer supporters required to sign
45%: Yes.
11. What professional supervision does your team have?
50%: Input from a MHP on a needs basis.
30%: Regular meetings involving a MHP.
20%: No formal supervision arrangements.
12. What is the level of acceptance of the peer support program within your organisation?
22%: Very high.
22%: High.
43%: Moderate.
10%: Varies across the organisation.
3%: Very little.
0%: None
13. What are the major threats to your peer support program?
32%: None.
8%: Decrease in future management support.
16%: Turnover of peers and loss of interest.
13%: Organisational changes.
3%: Lack of critical incidents.
3%: Union resistance.
3%: Confidentiality problems.
3%: Too much management control of the program.
(MHP = Mental Health Professional)