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. 2025 Apr;61(3):576-586.
doi: 10.1007/s10597-024-01365-5. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Key Considerations in Integrating a Peer Support Model Within Psychiatric Emergency Services at a Canadian Pediatric Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

Julia C Hews-Girard  1   2   3 , Emma Cullen  4 , Jessica Sauerwein  5   4 , Carol Coventry  6 , Gina Dimitropoulos  7   8   9
Affiliations

Key Considerations in Integrating a Peer Support Model Within Psychiatric Emergency Services at a Canadian Pediatric Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

Julia C Hews-Girard et al. Community Ment Health J. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Difficulties accessing primary care and community-based mental health supports has contributed to youth (aged < 18 years) with mental health concerns presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs). Peer support services in community-based mental health settings are associated with improved outcomes; research exploring this in pediatric EDs is lacking. Determine feasibility and acceptability of integrating peer support services into a pediatric ED. 13 peer support workers (PSWs) and 30 mental health providers and stakeholders participated in interviews or focus groups. Using codebook thematic analysis, recommendations for integration were identified. Key recommendations were: clear conceptualization of youth and family peer support, effective communication pathways between the multidisciplinary team and PSWs, provision of training for ED staff to ensure workplace readiness for peer support, and consistent support for PSWs. Integration of peer support into pediatric EDs offers a feasible and acceptable way to support youth experiencing mental health crises.

Keywords: Emergency department; Mental health; Pediatrics; Peer support; Youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval and Informed Consent: All the procedures were followed in accordance with the relevant guidelines (e.g. Declaration of Helsinki). This study was approved by the University of Calgary’s Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) (REB#18-552). All participants provided informed consent to prior to participating in the study.

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