ABSTRACT
RESUMEN En el contexto de las discusiones sobre la implementación de la formación y formas de incorporación en el sistema sanitario de Cataluña de agentes de apoyo entre iguales en salud mental o pares, entre 2020 y 2021, se llevó a cabo una revisión de literatura y, de forma complementaria, entrevistas a expertos tanto a nivel internacional como en el Estado español, con el propósito de realizar un análisis de contenido de elementos formativos y de integración dentro de los sistemas sanitarios. Los países germanoparlantes son los que ofrecen programas de formación e incorporación más homogéneos. En el caso de países anglosajones y francófonos, organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro del tercer sector se suelen hacer cargo de los programas formativos y de su incorporación. En el mundo iberoamericano existen diversas experiencias de programas formativos, aunque sin reconocimiento como formaciones sanitarias. Se ofrecen recomendaciones al desarrollo de esta figura en Cataluña, que incluyen el avance hacia una formación profesional con reconocimiento sanitario y opciones de incorporación tanto desde entidades proveedoras sanitarias o sociosanitarias como del tercer sector.
ABSTRACT In the context of debates surrounding the training of mental health peer support workers and their incorporation into the Catalan Health System, this article presents a literature review complemented by interviews carried out between 2020 and 2021 with both international and Spanish experts. Based on the information obtained, content analysis of elements of their training and integration within the health system was performed. German-speaking countries offer the most homogeneous training and recruitment programs. In the case of English- and French-speaking countries, non-profit or third sector organizations are usually in charge of training programs and recruitment. Various experiences with training programs exist in the Ibero-American world, although they are not recognized as professional qualifications. Recommendations are offered for the development of this figure in Catalonia, which include advancing towards professional training with recognition as health care providers, as well as contracting options from both socio-health or health care providers or from third sector entities.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Los problemas de salud mental son un tema relevante en todo el mundo. Pese a los avances, es necesario continuar trabajando para mejorar la calidad de vida del colectivo. La educación y el apoyo entre iguales son estrategias muy adecuadas para contribuir a su integración socio-laboral. Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica en bases de datos y páginas web para identificar experiencias españolas de formación de personas con Trastorno Mental Severo (TMS) basadas en el apoyo entre iguales. Se han encontrado siete experiencias de formación para el colectivo, cinco de ellas centradas en el apoyo entre iguales y otras en la figura de el/la asistente personal. El número de experiencias encontradas en España es muy reducido. Aunque los objetivos son comunes, se observan enfoques diferentes (entorno sanitario, laboral, social) que pueden ser muy relevantes para el diseño y aplicación de otras experiencias en diferentes contextos.
Abstract Mental health problems are a relevant issue all around the world. Mental illness affects one in four people throughout their lives, causing serious socio-economic and human rights-related consequences. In Spain, despite the progress made with psychiatric reform and the promotion of a community model, it is necessary to continue working to improve the quality of life of people with mental health problems. Education and peer support are highly recommended strategies to contribute to their social and occupational integration. Peer support is a relationship based on mutual support. It is established between two people: the person with mental health problems trained to provide the support and the person who receives it. This support enhances the recovery process. For this support to be effective, it is essential to previously train the person who will undertake the counselling functions. The relationship of support offers practical advice, suggestions, strategies and emotional and psychological support. In addition, maintaining an non-professional perspective is essential to help people to rebuild their sense of community after an unknown experience. Peer support brings benefits to all parties involved: support providers, receivers and implementing organizations or institutions. However, training programs for peer support are not widespread. In Spain, despite the recognition of the need to integrate people with mental health problems into society and to respond to their needs, there is no published research on guidelines for such training programs. For this reason, this research identifies the peer support training programs which have been or are being carried out in Spain and describe their formal characteristics. A bibliographic review of databases and web pages has been undertaken to identify Spanish experiences of training people with Severe Mental Disorder (SMD) based on peer support and to describe their formal characteristics (duration, methodology, evaluation and workplace). A total of 77 programs found in the electronic databases, 75 of which have been excluded as they are not Spanish experiences. Five programs were found in the searches carried out on the reports of conferences, congresses and websites of Spanish organizations and institutions. Finally, seven training experiences were selected for the group, five of them focused on peer support and others on the figure of the personal assistant. The study of the programs is carried out following the indications of the content analysis model. The training programs described have common objectives, however, they vary considerably in their approach, duration, names of support and evaluation providers and, to a lesser extent, in the contents, methodology and workplaces. Despite the expansion of peer support in mental health, the number of experiences found in Spain is limited. Any program must be adapted to the strengths of the individuals, the type of work, as well as to the needs of the community. Furthermore, if this new professional profile is regulated at work, it will contribute to improving the rates of social and occupational integration of people with mental health problems. It is necessary to continue developing and implementing experiences of these characteristics and to investigate their efficiency and effectiveness in order to be able to provide guidelines on peer support in the Spanish population.