Zoom & WhatsApp Digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Enhance Community Engaged Research with Women Immigrants from Mexico.

This article demonstrates how digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) (Zoom/WhatsApp) unexpectedly and counterintuitively proved to be valuable tools for community-engaged health research when, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were integrated into a research study testing a peer support group intervention with female immigrants from Mexico. Because of pandemic restrictions, we changed the study protocol to hold meetings remotely via Zoom rather than in person as originally planned. Because we recognized that this would lack some opportunities for participants to interact and develop relationships, we created a WhatsApp chat for each group. Despite challenges for participants to use ICTs and participant-stated preference for in-person meetings, the results demonstrated that participants overwhelmingly endorsed these technologies as promoting access, participation, engagement, and satisfaction. Zoom/WhatsApp created a valuable environment both as a method for conducting research with this population, but also as part of the intervention for immigrant women to support and learn from each other. ICT adaptations have now permanently changed the way we conduct community-engaged health research.

Body map stories from Colombia: experiences of people affected by leprosy and the influence of peers during diagnosis and treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Almost one third of people affected by leprosy in Colombia suffer from disability, which often results from delayed diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to explore the experience of people affected by leprosy during the process of diagnosis and treatment and if and how this experience was influenced by peers. METHODS: A qualitative study using body map stories was conducted from October 2019 to February 2020 in Colombia. Adult people affected by leprosy were recruited through patient associations in different cities. We conducted three sessions with an average duration of 2-3 h per participant, during which the participants created a painted map of their body and chose symbols to represent their experience, while being engaged in an informal interview. The sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically by an interdisciplinary team, consisting of physicians, social workers and a person affected by leprosy. RESULTS: The 17 study participants (11 female) were aged 20 to 70 years. Leprosy-related manifestations ranged from no to advanced disability. Some participants were active members of associations for people affected by leprosy. Three main themes were identified during analysis: (1) A long pathway to diagnosis, (2) Therapy as a double-edged sword and (3) The influence of other people affected by leprosy. The participants described an often years-long process until being diagnosed, which was marked by insecurities, repeated misdiagnosis, and worsening mental and physical health. Delayed diagnosis was related to late health care seeking, but also to inadequate health communication, lack of leprosy-related knowledge and negligence among health care workers. A high desire to cure motivated the participants to take their medication rigorously, despite the high treatment burden. Support from peers, either within the own social environment or provided from associations, contributed to a faster diagnosis and increased therapy adherence. Peers helped to recognize the symptoms, urged patients to seek care, recommended physicians with leprosy-related knowledge and provided a realistic example of both disease severity and curability. CONCLUSION: People affected by leprosy experience a significant burden during the process of diagnosis and treatment. Involving well-trained peers could foster early diagnosis, treatment compliance and prevention of disability.

Our voices, our lives: Unforeseen stories after the violence and opening the door to becoming whole again.

We are a group of 11 women in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nine of us are immigrants from Mexico. One of us is from an immigrant household. One of us is neither. We have been working collaboratively on a research study called Tertulias (Spanish for "a social gathering"), which is an innovative women's peer support group approach we created to reduce social isolation, depression, and stress among women immigrants from Mexico, and to increase their resilience and sense of empowerment. In the process of implementing the Tertulias study, we are revealing the profound power of peer support, friendship, and small, quotidian kindnesses. But we are also exposing the immensity and scope of trauma, fear, loneliness, depression, and self-blame that exist in the Mexican immigrant community because of domestic violence. Our experience with domestic violence and with the consciousness-raising and support we found in Tertulias has made us want to be involved in a positive manner to do something about this issue in our community. We want our experience to mean something-to be used to make a difference. We are opening our hearts and sharing our stories and ideas. We wanted to be included as co-authors of this article because we want our stories to be received and heard by other women. We want to plant seeds to help other women find their inner strength to be able to escape from their chains. We have to return for others. It is a commitment-to understand how we were able to do it and share that with others. Through our experience participating in Tertulias, we learned that we could overcome what felt overwhelming and impenetrable. We could leave the violence and rediscover and recreate ourselves and our lives.

Implementing the figure of peer support workers in mental health: an international perspective from the context of its implementation in Catalonia. / Implementación de la figura de agente de apoyo entre iguales en salud mental: una perspectiva internacional en el contexto de su implementación en Cataluña.

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.

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.

Strategies for the Management of Voices Shared in a Brazilian Hearing Voices Group.

Hearing Voices peer support groups allow people to construct understandings of their voices. The groups focus on supporting voice hearers in reducing distress associated with voices through an array of strategies. This study sought to describe the voice management strategies shared in a hearing voices peer support group within a Brazilian public mental health service. In this qualitative study we recorded 10 group meetings. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated five themes, described as: (1) strategies used to avoid distressing experiences; (2) strategies for managing the voices; (3) strategies for seeking social support; (4) strategies for creating a sense of belonging in the community; and (5) strategies related to spirituality and religiosity. These strategies appear to be essential in helping voice hearers feel less alone, reducing the amount of distress associated with hearing voices, and developing coping strategies. These groups provide people who hear voices with the opportunity to share their stories with peers in a group setting, construct new understandings about the experience, and learn strategies for managing their voices. Accordingly, there are great possibilities for the use of these groups within mental health services throughout Latin America.

Implementación de la figura de agente de apoyo entre iguales en salud mental: una perspectiva internacional en el contexto de su implementación en Cataluña / Implementing the figure of peer support workers in mental health: an international perspective from the context of its implementation in Catalonia

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.

A Group Videoconferencing Intervention (C@nnected) to Improve Maternal Sensitivity: Protocol for a Randomized Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood development is highly dependent on the sensitive care provided by caregivers, and interventions focused on supporting parents to improve their sensitivity have shown to be effective. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, with pregnant women and mothers of infants being an especially vulnerable group and maternal sensitivity particularly affected. However, access to face-to-face interventions is restricted; thus, it is important to have remote interventions to support this group of mothers. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of C@nnected, a group videoconferencing intervention to improve maternal sensitivity aimed at mother-infant dyads attending primary health care centers in vulnerable areas of Santiago, Chile. METHODS: This is a randomized feasibility single-masked (outcome assessor) study with a qualitative component. It will involve a block randomization procedure to generate a 3:2 allocation ratio (with more people allocated to the intervention arm). The intervention consists of 4 group videoconferencing sessions adapted from a face-to-face intervention with proven effectiveness. The control group will receive treatment as usual, along with educational brochures. The feasibility and acceptability of this study will be quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. Changes in clinical outcomes relating to maternal sensitivity, depressive symptoms, postpartum maternal attachment, and infant socioemotional development will also be evaluated. RESULTS: We finished adapting the face-to-face intervention to the videoconferencing format in July 2021. The study began recruitment in August 2021, and enrollment is expected to end in August 2022, with final study results expected in December 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This study will contribute evidence for the use of eHealth interventions to promote maternal sensitivity. It will also inform the design and implementation of a future randomized clinical trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04904861; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04904861. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/35881.

Understanding Users' Perspectives of Psychosocial Mechanisms Underpinning Peer Support Work in Chile.

This study explores the beliefs and attitudes about the psychosocial mechanisms of peer support work among users who participated in Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting (CTI-TS), which tested the acceptability and feasibility of a peer support work model to improve community-based mental health care for individuals with psychosis in Latin America. We conducted a secondary analysis of 15 in-depth interviews with CTI-TS participants in Chile, using the framework method and defined the framework domains based on five major mechanisms of peer support work identified by a recent literature review. The analysis revealed that users' perceptions of peer support work mechanisms were strongly shaped by personal motivations, beliefs about professional hierarchies, familial support, and the Chilean mental health system's incipient recovery orientation. The findings underscore the importance of adopting culturally tailored strategies to promote peer support work, such as involving mental health professionals and fostering equal-powered relationships between PSWs and users.

Community, Hope, and Resilience: Parental Perspectives on Peer Support in Neonatology.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the perspective of parents who participated in peer-to-peer support meetings with parents of children in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and veteran resource parents with previous NICU experience. STUDY DESIGN: During a longitudinal evaluation in a tertiary care NICU, participating parents were asked to evaluate meetings; with open-ended questions, they were asked about their perspectives. Results were analyzed using mixed methods. RESULTS: Forty-five NICU parents participated over a 10-week study period. They were followed longitudinally after attending at least 1 of the 10 meetings offered; 95% of parents (43 of 45) reported that the meeting was useful to them and gave an overall evaluation of 8.7 out of 10 (average). For each meeting, all the subjects on the checklist of the moderators (veteran resource parents) were discussed with new parents. When describing why and how the meetings were useful to them in their answers to open-ended questions, NICU parents reported 3 major themes: (1) decreasing isolation and being a community (73%), (2) hope and resilience (63%), and (3) getting practical "parent" information (32%). Sharing stories with parents who also had experienced loss, sadness, and grief, NICU parents trusted that it was possible to adapt and thrive. The meetings normalized parents' emotions (92%), decreased negative emotions (eg, anger, sadness, guilt), empowered them in their parental role, and helped them communicate with loved ones and providers. CONCLUSIONS: Peer support meetings are a unique and useful means to support parents. Future investigations will investigate whether and how this type of intervention can improve clinical outcomes.

Programas de formación para el apoyo entre iguales en salud mental en España / Training programs for peer support in mental health in Spain

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.

Evaluation of Ongoing Participation of People with Schizophrenia in a Mutual Support Group as a Complementary Intervention to Outpatient Psychiatric Treatment.

This study aims to evaluate a group of people with schizophrenia undergoing outpatient treatment and who participate in a mutual support intervention, compared to another group of people with the same diagnosis, but attending only the usual outpatient treatment. This is a prospective study, with two measurements between six months. The mutual support group was initially composed of 16 people and the treatment as usual group was composed of 15 people. Clinical (medication adherence and functioning) and Recovery (hope, well-being, recovery and internalized stigma) outcomes were assessed. Nonparametric tests were used to verify differences in measurements between groups and between two moments. A higher level of internalized stigma and a decrease in the adherence to drug treatment in the treatment as usual group were verified. When comparing the pre-post difference between groups, there was a greater increase in adherence to drug treatment in the mutual support group. Our data point to more favorable results in the mutual support group, showing that ongoing participation in these groups is an important tool for the recovery process and for the treatment itself.

A randomized control trial to test a peer support group approach for reducing social isolation and depression among female Mexican immigrants.

BACKGROUND: Female Mexican Immigrants (FMIs) experience high rates of depression compared with other populations. For this population, depression is often exacerbated by social isolation associated with the experience of immigration. Aim 1. To measure whether a culturally situated peer group intervention will reduce depression and stress associated with the experience of immigration. Aim 2. To test whether an intervention using a "women's funds of knowledge" approach results in improved resilience, knowledge and empowerment. Aim 3. To investigate whether a culturally situated peer group intervention using a women's funds of knowledge approach can give participants a sense and experience of social and physical connection ("emplacement") that is lost in the process of immigration. METHODS: This mixed-methods study will implement "Tertulias" ("conversational gatherings" in Spanish), a peer support group intervention designed to improve health outcomes for FMI participants in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We will document results of the intervention on our primary hypotheses of a decrease in depression, and increases in resilience and social support, as well as on our secondary hypotheses of decreased stress (including testing of hair cortisol as a biomarker for chronic stress), and an increase in social connectedness and positive assessment of knowledge and empowerment. DISCUSSION: This project will address mental health disparities in an underserved population that experiences high rates of social isolation. Successful completion of this project will demonstrate that health challenges that may appear too complex and too hard to address can be using a multi-level, holistic approach. Our use of hair samples to test for the 3-month average levels of systemic cortisol will contribute to the literature on an emerging biomarker for analyzing chronic stress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 2/3/20, Identifier # NCT04254198 .

Peer Support Added to Diabetes Education Improves Metabolic Control and Quality of Life in Mayan Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Yucatán, located in the southern region of Mexico, is the state with the country's highest prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes. Because of its particular cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, the residents of Yucatán face unique health-care challenges. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of peer support added to a diabetes education program on glycemic control and diabetes-related quality of life when compared with a conventional diabetes education program in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Mayan community in Mexico. METHODS: In March 2015, a total of 58 participants with a previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes who were recruited from community health centres in Komchén were randomly assigned in equal numbers to 1 of 2 groups: 1) a peer support and diabetes self-management education group (PSEG) or 2) a conventional diabetes self-management education-only group. The primary outcomes of interest were glycated hemoglobin (A1C) values and diabetes-related quality of life. The majority of subjects were bilingual (Mayan and Spanish speakers), female and middle aged, and had a low level of formal education and high baseline A1C (mean, 8.7%). RESULTS: Whereas both groups showed significant improvements from baseline to study end in absolute levels of A1C, the PSEG group had a more pronounced clinical improvement, but no statistical improvement, in A1C compared with the conventional diabetes self-management education-only group. PSEG participants exhibited statistically significant improvement in diabetes-related quality of life at 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the benefits of peer-support education above and beyond the impact of diabetes self-management education on diabetes-related quality of life in an underserved Mayan community in Mexico.

Psychoeducation and Problem-Solving Therapy as an Integrative Model of Mutual-Help Groups for People with Severe Mental Disorders: A Report from Brazil.

This case study describes the "Entrelaços" Peer Support Program, a psychoeducational program of a psychiatric institution in the city of Rio de Janeiro that admitted, between 2011 and 2019, 246 people comprising family members and patients to participate in eight educational seminars followed by multifamily problem-solving groups in cycles that were 18 months in duration. Ninety percent of the participants who completed the program decided to create 7 mutual-help groups in the community independent of technicians and the institution. Community groups have already served spontaneously more than 214 families. They have organized scientific, social and anti-stigma events, expanded their social support network and demonstrated empowerment by switching from service users to peer providers to receive new families. This work is based on a pioneering model in Brazil that integrates psychoeducation with problem-solving therapy, spreading the benefits of education and peer-support with lower cost and greater representativeness.

When do peers matter? The moderating role of peer support in the relationship between environmental adversity, complex trauma, and adolescent psychopathology in socially disadvantaged adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the longitudinal associations between environmental adversity (defined in terms of exposure to violence in the neighborhood, school, and media), complex trauma (operationalized as experiences of abuse and neglect), and adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms. METHODS: Using a cross-lagged panel research design, we investigated the moderating role of peer support in these relationships in a sample of 644 adolescents from a severely disadvantaged district of Lima, Peru, who were followed up in a 1-year prospective study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found significant unidirectional dynamic relations, where both types of adversity were associated with higher levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Peer support significantly moderated this effect, but only for complex trauma, in that higher levels of peer support were associated with a decreased impact of complex trauma on internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of social relations and the quality of peer relations in particular as factors that may mitigate the risk of early exposure to trauma.

Ouvir vozes: um estudo netnográfico de ambientes virtuais para ajuda mútua / Hearing voices: a netnographic study of virtual environments for peer suport

Resumo O artigo tem como foco de reflexão a formação de uma rede social constituída através de uma mídia social da internet, a Intervoice, buscando compreender de que forma as redes sociais se integram em ofertas de ajuda mútua. Ao escolhermos como eixo de nossa abordagem a experiência vivida por ouvidores de vozes em ambientes virtuais da Intervoice, buscamos identificar a existência de uma mudança de perspectiva em relação às abordagens tradicionais da psiquiatria no que concerne ao cuidado oferecido, no sentido mais amplo, ao seu público-alvo, bem como analisar se essa mídia social favorece o processo de ajuda mútua para pessoas que ouvem vozes. Desenvolvemos uma metodologia a partir da observação das postagens da Intervoice no Facebook, de setembro de 2014 a maio de 2015. Após análise minuciosa, identificamos que o Facebook foi a mídia mais utilizada se comparada ao Twitter e YouTube. Recortamos os posts e comentários mais interessantes e pontuamos assuntos e discussões específicas, sobretudo as que tratavam de ajuda mútua. Os resultados apontam para a extrema relevância que a ajuda mútua vem ganhando nos últimos tempos, através de ambientes virtuais e redes sociais, sobretudo pela possibilidade de interação em tempo real.

Abstract The reflection focus of this article is the formation of a social network through an internet social media, the Intervoice, seeking to understand how social networks integrate in offerings of peer support. By choosing the experiences lived by voice hearers on Intervoice's virtual environments as the main axis of our approach, we seek to identify the existence of a change of perspective in relation to the exclusively descriptive approaches by voice hearers, as well as analyzing if this social media, whilst broadening the possibility of interaction and sharing of experiences, favors the process of peer support for people that hear voices. A methodology was developed from the observation of the Intervoice posts on Facebook from September 2014 to May 2015. After thorough analysis, we concluded that Facebook was the media with most interactions when compared with other media such as Twitter and YouTube. Thus, we selected the most interesting posts and comments and pointed out issues and specific discussions, particularly those that dealt with peer support. The results of this research point to the extreme relevance that the peer support through virtual environments and social networks has been gaining in recent times, mainly by the possibility of real time interaction.

Maltrato por abuso de poder entre ¡guales en el alumnado con d¡scapac¡dad / Peer V¡ct¡m¡zat¡on Among Pup¡ls w¡th D¡sab¡l¡ty / Maltrato por abuso de poder entre ¡gua¡s no alunado com def¡c¡enc¡a

Tras un repaso del conocimiento actual acerca del acoso y la exclusión social entre escolares, como problemas de grupo, se revisan los estudios que han explorado la naturaleza y las consecuencias de este tipo de relación con el alumnado con alguna discapacidad. De esta revisión, se deriva que la incidencia de víctimas es mayor comparada con la del alumnado sin discapacidad, y que el modo en que se manifiesta el abuso de poder entre iguales, así como el tipo de persona a quien se acude en busca de ayuda es diferente según el tipo de discapacidad, sea sensorial, motriz o del desarrollo (intelectual, del habla o comunicación, del espectro autista). El artículo presta especial atención a cómo afectan los abusos entre iguales al alumnado con trastornos del espectro autista y se presentan los tipos de intervención que, centrados en el grupo de pares, han mostrado su eficacia para cambiar el clima de relaciones del grupo.

Starting with an overview of the current scientific knowledge of peer bullying and social exclusion in schools, considered as a group problem, research on the nature and consequences of this negative relationship among students with any kind of disability is reviewed. The review shows a higher incidence of victims among Special Educational Needs (SEN) students compared with non-SEN students, together with differences not only in how the abuse takes place among peers, but also in relation to the person the victim goes to for help, depending on the type of disability of the victim -sensory, motor or developmental (intellectual, speech or communication, autistic spectrum disorders). The article focuses especially on how peer abuse affects pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and efficient types of intervention focusing on the peer group to change group relationships are presented.

Depois de um repasso do conhecimento atual sobre o acosso e a exclusão social entre escolares, como problemas de grupo, são revisados os estudos que tem explorado a natureza e as consequências de este tipo de relação com o alunado com alguma deficiência. De esta revisão, deriva-se que a incidência de vítimas é maior comparada com a do alunado sem deficiência, e que o modo em que o abuso de poder é manifestado, assim como o tipo de pessoa a quem se vai em procura de ajuda, é diferente segundo o tipo de deficiência, seja sensorial, motriz ou do desenvolvimento (intelectual, da fala ou comunicação, do espectro autista). O artigo presta especial atenção para como afetam os abusos entre iguais no alunado com transtornos do espectro autista e se apresentam os tipos de intervenção que, centrados no grupo de pares, tem mostrado sua eficácia para mudar o clima de relações do grupo.

Ouvir vozes: um estudo sobre a troca de experiências em ambiente virtual / Oír voces: un estudio sobre el intercambio de experiencias en ambiente virtual / Hearing voices: a study on exchanges of experiences in a virtual environment

O presente artigo, por meio do estudo da troca de experiência entre os ouvidores de vozes em um ambiente virtual, explora como essas pessoas criam estratégias para compartilhar sua vivência em um coletivo, na busca de alternativa ao saber psiquiátrico acerca da alucinação auditiva verbal. Discorre sobre a criação da rede Intervoice e de sua migração para o ambiente virtual. O emprego da netnografia demonstra que esse ambiente é propício para explorar a troca de experiências entre os ouvidores de vozes, enfatizando sua relação com o uso da medicação e a forma de lidar com as vozes. Observa a forma como os ouvidores de vozes utilizam o ambiente virtual para criar laços sociais e uma nova maneira de estar no mundo...

El presente artículo, por medio del estudio del intercambio de experiencias entre los que escuchan voces en un ambiente virtual, explora cómo esas personas crean estrategias para compartir su experiencia en un colectivo, en la búsqueda de alternativa al saber psiquiátrico sobre la alucinación auditiva verbal. Trata sobre la creación de la red Intervoice y de su migración para el ambiente virtual. El empleo de la netnografía demuestra que ese ambiente es propicio para explorar el intercambio de experiencias entre los que escuchan voces, enfatizando su relación con el uso de la medicación y la forma de enfrentar las voces. Observa la forma en que los que escuchan voces utilizan el ambiente virtual para crear lazos sociales y una manera de estar en el mundo...

Through studying exchanges of experiences among people who hear voices in a virtual environment, this paper explored the ways in which these people create strategies for sharing their experiences in a group, thereby searching for an alternative to psychiatric knowledge regarding verbal auditory hallucination. It described the creation of the Intervoice network and its migration to the virtual environment. Use of netnography demonstrated that this environment is appropriate for exploring exchanges of experiences between people who hear voices and emphasizing the relationship with their use of medication and the ways in which they deal with the voices. This study also observed how people who hear voices use the virtual environment to create social bonds and a new way of existing in the world...

Peer support for people with mental illness / Suporte interpares na doença mental

Background Peer support is a mutual aid system based on the belief that someone who faced/overcome adversity can provide support, encouragement and guidance to those who experience similar situations. Objective: To conduct a systematic review that describes this concept and characterizes peer supporters, its practice and efficacy. Method: Research on ISI Web of Science, EBSCO Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection and Medline databases (from 2001 to December 2013) was conducted using as keywords “mental illness”, “mental health”, “psychiatric disability”, “mental health services”, combined with “peer support”, “mutual support”, “self-help groups”, “consumers as providers”, “peer-run services”, “peer-run programs” and “social support”. Results: We found 1,566 articles and the application of both the exclusion (studies with children, teenagers and elderly people; disease in comorbidity; peer support associated to physical illnesses or family members/caregivers) and the inclusion criteria (full text scientific papers, peer support or similar groups directed for schizophrenia, depression, bipolar or psychotic disorders) lead to 165 documents, where 22 were excluded due to repetition and 31 to incomplete text. We analyzed 112 documents, identifying as main peer support categories: characterization, peer supporter, practices and efficacy. Discussion Despite an increasing interest about this topic, there is no consensus, suggesting realizing more studies...

Contexto: O suporte interpares é um sistema de ajuda mútua baseado na crença de que alguém que enfrentou/superou adversidades pode oferecer apoio, encorajamento e orientação a outros que enfrentam situações similares. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática que caracterize o suporte interpares como prática, analise a sua eficácia e caracterize os pares prestadores de suporte interpares. Método: Pesquisa nas bases de dados ISI Web of Science, EBSCO Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection e Medline (2001 a dezembro de 2013), utilizando as palavras-chave “mental illness”, “mental health”, “psychiatric disability”, “mental health services”, combinadas com “peer support”, “mutual support”, “self-help groups”, “consumers as providers”, “peer-run services”, “peer-run programs” e “social support”. Resultados: Encontraram-se 1.566 artigos e foram aplicados os critérios de exclusão (artigos com crianças, adolescentes e idosos; doença mental em comorbidade; suporte interpares em doenças físicas ou familiares/cuidadores) e de inclusão (revistas científicas com texto integral disponível; suporte interpares ou grupos similares dirigidos a esquizofrenia, depressão, transtorno bipolar e outras perturbações psicóticas), resultando em 165 documentos. Excluíram-se 22 por repetição e 31 por texto incompleto, resultando em 112, os quais se identificaram como principais categorias do suporte interpares: caracterização, prestador de suporte, práticas e eficácia. Conclusão: Existe interesse crescente pelo tema, embora alguns domínios não sejam consensuais, sugerindo necessidade de mais estudos...

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD in adolescent victims of sexual abuse: resilience and social support as protection factors / Síndrome do Estresse Pós-Traumático/PTSD em adolescentes vítimas de violência sexual: a resiliência e o suporte social como fatores de proteção

This analysis examined the contribution of personal, family (maternal and paternal support; sibling support) and extra-familiar (peer support; other adults) resilience to the prediction of clinical levels of PTSD symptoms in adolescents reporting sexual abuse. Controls were established for abuse-related variables (type of abuse, severity and multiple abuse) in a representative sample of high schools students in the province of Quebec. A total of 15.2% of adolescent females and 4.4% adolescent males in high school reported a history of sexual abuse in childhood. Sexually abused adolescent females (27.8%) were more likely than adolescent males (14.9%) to achieve scores with high clinical levels of PTSD. Hierarchical logistic regression revealed that over and above the characteristics of the sexual abuse experienced, resilience factors (maternal and peer support) contributed to the prediction of symptoms of PTSD attaining the clinical threshold. Alternative intervention and prevention practices geared to adolescent victims of sexual assault are discussed.

A presente análise explorou a contribuição da resiliência pessoal, familiar (apoio maternal e paternal, o apoio irmão) e extra-familiar (apoio dos pares, outro adulto) para a previsão de níveis clínicos de sintomas de Síndrome do Estresse Pós-Traumático (PTSD) em adolescentes que relataram abuso sexual, controlando-se variá veis relacionadas com o abuso (tipo de abuso, gravidade e abuso múltipla) em amostra representativa de alunos das escolas da província de Quebec. O total de 15,2% das meninas e 4,4 % dos meninos do ensino médio relataram uma história de abuso sexual infantil. Meninas abusadas sexualmente (27,8%) eram mais propensas, comparadas aos meninos (14,9%), para obter pontuação atingindo níveis clínicos de PTSD. A regressão logística hierárquica revelou que, para além das características do abuso sexual sofrido, fatores de resiliência (suporte materno e apoio dos pares) contribuíram para a predição de sintomas de PTSD que atingiram o limite clínico. São discutidas alternativas práticas de intervenção e de prevenção direcionadas a adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual.