Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading  Processing Request

Lived experience in Italian mental health services: a national survey of peer support and co-production practices.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101088677 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1472-6963 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14726963 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Health Serv Res Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2001-
    • Subject Terms:
      Peer Group* ; Mental Health Services*/organization & administration ; Social Support* ; Mental Disorders*/therapy; Humans ; Italy ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Male ; Female ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adult ; Middle Aged
    • Abstract:
      Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: This study did not require formal ethics approval, as it did not involve the collection of patient data, sensitive information, or any information allowing the identification of individuals. Only anonymous and objective information on organizational practices was collected from the Directors of the participating Departments of Mental Health. In accordance with Italian data protection legislation (Legislative Decree No. 196/2003, “Data Protection Code,” as amended by Legislative Decree No. 101/2018), research of this nature does not require submission to or approval by an ethics committee or institutional review board. As the study did not constitute biomedical research on human subjects, adherence to the Declaration of Helsinki was not applicable. Similarly, no formal written informed consent was required. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
      Background: Peer support has become a cornerstone of recovery-oriented mental health systems worldwide, with increasing recognition of its value in promoting recovery, empowerment, and inclusion. In Italy, despite a long-standing tradition of community-based care, the integration of peer support services (PSSs) remains fragmented and understudied.
      Methods: A national cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January and February 2025 targeting all Italian Mental Health Departments (MHDs). The survey explored the presence, organization, and perceived impact of peer support and co-production practices.
      Results: A total of 61 out of 135 MHDs (45%) responded. Among them, 55.7% reported implementing peer support initiatives, primarily within community-based services. Peer support workers (PSWs) were generally perceived as effective in fostering recovery and reducing stigma. However, major barriers included lack of formal recognition, insufficient funding, and cultural resistance (e.g., reluctance among some professionals to acknowledge experiential knowledge or to integrate non-clinical roles into multidisciplinary teams). Co-production practices were reported by more than half of the MHDs, though they remained largely consultative.
      Conclusions: Peer support and co-production are emerging within in Italy's mental health system but face substantial structural and cultural barriers. National frameworks and dedicated resources are required to support sustainable implementation and the full integration of experiential knowledge into mental health services.
      (© 2025. The Author(s).)
    • References:
      Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2012 Spring;35(4):289-96. (PMID: 22491368)
      Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;(3):CD004807. (PMID: 23543537)
      BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 May 24;13:188. (PMID: 23705767)
      World Psychiatry. 2014 Feb;13(1):12-20. (PMID: 24497237)
      Front Psychiatry. 2020 May 08;11:365. (PMID: 32457662)
      Am J Community Psychol. 2015 Jun;55(3-4):455-71. (PMID: 25861883)
      Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;27(4):276-81. (PMID: 24852058)
      BMC Psychiatry. 2014 Feb 14;14:39. (PMID: 24528545)
      Int J Ment Health Syst. 2018 Jul 31;12:43. (PMID: 30079100)
      Psychiatr Serv. 2012 Oct;63(10):963-73. (PMID: 23032675)
      Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2004 Spring;27(4):392-401. (PMID: 15222150)
      Brain Behav Immun. 2022 Jan;99:17-24. (PMID: 34563621)
      Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2019 Apr;28(2):572-581. (PMID: 30609234)
      J Ment Health. 2019 Aug;28(4):341-344. (PMID: 31070066)
      BMC Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 11;20(1):534. (PMID: 33176729)
      Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2001 Fall;25(2):134-41. (PMID: 11769979)
      Health Expect. 2024 Apr;27(2):e13999. (PMID: 38439208)
      Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2018 Aug;27(4):319-323. (PMID: 29335037)
      Ann Glob Health. 2019 Apr 05;85(1):. (PMID: 30951270)
      BMC Psychiatry. 2021 Jun 23;21(1):315. (PMID: 34162340)
      Health Expect. 2016 Apr;19(2):209-21. (PMID: 25684242)
      J Ment Health. 2011 Aug;20(4):392-411. (PMID: 21770786)
      Psychiatr Serv. 2014 Apr 1;65(4):429-41. (PMID: 24549400)
      BMJ Qual Saf. 2016 Jul;25(7):509-17. (PMID: 26376674)
      Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Jun;29(3):460-475. (PMID: 31820569)
      World Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;11(2):123-8. (PMID: 22654945)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Implementation; Mental health services; Peer support workers; Recovery
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20251001 Date Completed: 20251001 Latest Revision: 20251004
    • Publication Date:
      20251004
    • Accession Number:
      PMC12482000
    • Accession Number:
      10.1186/s12913-025-13407-z
    • Accession Number:
      41029306