A bridge to recovery: an interpretative phenomenological analysis with peer support specialists in Singapore

ABSTRACT

Recovery-oriented mental health care approach is gaining acceptance in Asian countries, including Singapore. Following Western countries, Singapore started hiring peer support specialists (PSS) as part of mental healthcare services. The aim of this paper was to explore and understand how individual peer support specialists in Singapore perceive and make sense of their role given their unique perspective as both recipients and providers of mental healthcare treatment. Six PSS in Singapore were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes were generated illustrating how PSS viewed their role: embracing and embodying recovery, balancing on a bridge, impossible without support, and helping to end stigma. Findings also illustrated participants’ awareness of the nature of the job and the role of PSS as still in the infancy stage. They embraced a recovery-oriented mindset despite experiencing stigma from professionals and/or their social support. The need to understand familial attitudes towards the PSS role is discussed. The limitations, contributions to the research, and several areas for future research are also outlined.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer support specialist
• peer support
• recovery
• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
• mental healthcare

Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank participants for their honest and invaluable sharing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Jing Ting Lynn Ng

Jing Ting Lynn Ng is a registered psychologist with Singapore Psychological Society. She completed her Master of Psychology (Clinical) at James Cook University Singapore. She previously worked in restructured hospital in Singapore providing individual psychological therapy and neuropsychological assessments for adults. She currently works for a private psychology clinic providing individual psychological therapy. Her clinical approach is primarily cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness-based approaches. During her free time, she volunteers with mental health organizations in the community to promote mental wellness.

Joanna Barlas

Joanna Barlas is a chartered clinical psychologist registered in the UK and Singapore. She lectures on the Master of Psychology (Clinical) program at James Cook University Singapore and works in private practice. Her research interests primarily focus on using qualitative methods to understand people’s experiences of distress and resilience.