Peers as a support: This is how Korneuburg's clinic staff helps in crises

Peers as a support: This is how Korneuburg's clinic staff helps in crises

in a healthcare system that is often confronted with stressful and challenging experiences, more and more facilities are relying on support from "peers". At the State Clinic Korneuburg-Stockerau, a structured range of support for employees was launched, which is tailored to the special features of the medical environment. This support is carried out by colleagues who have been in similar situations and can serve as the first point of contact for stressful moments. According to Meinzirk.at there are "peers" and to develop solutions together without evaluating.

A total of four trained “peers” are at the side of the employees at the Korneuburg clinic location. The offer is aimed at all health professions and specialist departments from the Korneuburg, Stockerau and Hollabrunn clinic locations. This is particularly important because the mental health of employees in the healthcare system is a key to the quality of patient care. The peer system not only promotes mental health, but also the collegial support in everyday work.

The role of the "peers"

The support from "peers" is increasingly recognized. This idea comes from the realization that people with similar experiences can develop a special understanding of each other. Peer work is requested in international documents, such as the WHO position paper from 2017. For example, in different parts of the world, such as in Switzerland, “peer employees” have been working in psychiatric people since 2009 and help people with mental problems. According to bfh.ch , the benefit of peer work in relation to personal recovery processes and empowerment is highlighted in many studies.

The tasks of "peers" in health care include the mediation of confidence, empowerment, and symptom management. In doing so, they build bridges between specialists and those affected and make an important contribution to anti-stigma work. The development of programs for further training, such as the "Experienced Involvement" (ex-in) initiative, value the reflection of one's own experience and the development of advisory capabilities.

a growing commitment

The integration of peer support services into health care shows positive results. Although challenges such as low payment and fluctuations in the staff inventory exist, however, the need for this type of support is becoming increasingly clear. Peer support services help to reduce a gap between people with mental illnesses and specialists. According to an examination in the area of mental health, the satisfaction of those affected varies depending on the context, so that the potential of peer work also depends on the given circumstances ( pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ).

The upcoming challenges for peer support employees include the guarantee of continuous supervisions and the need for regular exchange between leaders, specialists and peers. This ensures that the program not only remains, but also grows. In a system that urgently needs innovative approaches, the role of the peers is secured.