Peer Groups Led by Peers in Mental Health Rehabilitation- Peer-instructor`s Experiences-

Abstract

The experiences of mental health rehabilitees regarding voluntary led peer to peer groups are examined in this study. The working life partner was Tukiyhdistys Majakka Ry. Majakka is the day center for mental health rehabilitees located in Helsinki. The study's purpose was to make the operations model of Majakka more known and examine the benefits of their strong visitor orientated operations model from the perspective of inclusion. The study was qualitative research. The objective of the study was to produce information about the essential factors that promote inclusion and social participation based on peer-instructors experiences. In the theoretical framework, I introduce the mental health work in Finland in general basis, as well as the history of It. The working life partner is a third sector association, so I describe the role and the benefits of the third sector in Finland. I open up some challenges faced by mental health rehabilitees and introduce the scientifically proven methods to promote inclusion. By implementing my study, I interviewed four peer-instructors and the chairman of the executive committee of Majakka. To find out more about the subject, I also interviewed two staff members. All interviews were implemented during Autumn 2020. The results were analyzed by using content analysis. Four main themes rose from the content. Those were Inclusion, Peer-support, Challenges and Meaningful Things to Do. Based on the study results, a conclusion can be drawn, that leading peer to peer groups promotes the inclusion by increasing the social encounters, promoting a sense of belonging and togetherness, as well as increasing the possibilities to use one's abilities. For further research, it might be interesting to examine more of the factors that make the operations model in Majakka so functional and easy to run. Based on this knowledge, perhaps it could be found out how this model could be implemented and built somewhere else