Roles, responsibilities and role challenges of lived experience workers in a regional mental health service: a qualitative study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the views of Lived Experience Workers (LEWs) and Mental Health Clinicians (MHCs) from a regional mental health service in Victoria on the perceived roles, responsibilities and role challenges of LEWs. Methods: This was a qualitative study that employed one-to-one interviews with LEWs and MHCs from a regional hospital in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Eight participants were interviewed for the study (5 LEWs and 3 MHCs). Five categories emerged from the data. They were: Views of mental health clinicians on the roles and responsibilities of LEWs, Views of a Peer Support Worker (PSW) on their roles and responsibilities, Roles and responsibilities of Consumer Consultants, Views of a Carer Consultant on their roles and responsibilities, and LEW role challenges. Some key findings were: PSWs also helped close the communication gap between the clinician and the consumer and helped in the education of medical students; Consumer and carer consultants had more advisory and leadership roles in the organisation; LEW roles were not formalised by the organisation resulting in some confusion. Conclusion: Standardisation of the roles of the lived experience workforce in Victorian mental health services will require larger studies.