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Compeer Friends: a Qualitative Study of a Volunteer Friendship Programme for People with Serious Mental Illness

Author

Listed:
  • Brian H. Mccorkle

    (The Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA, mccorkle@bu.edu)

  • Erin C. Dunn

    (Health and Human Development Programs, Education Development Center, Newton, MA, USA)

  • Yu Mui Wan

    (Massachusetts Department of Education, Malden, MA, USA)

  • Cheryl Gagne

    (Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA)

Abstract

Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) experience numerous barriers to developing and maintaining friendships. Aims: To explore the benefits and drawbacks of an intentional friendship programme (Compeer, Inc), which develops new social relationships for people with SMI by matching them in one-to-one relationships with community volunteers for weekly social activities. Methods: Twenty clients and volunteers, in Compeer friendships for different lengths of time, participated in individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. Several volunteers were themselves current or former consumers of mental health services. Results: Participants reported numerous benefits to participating in Compeer. Clients and volunteers spoke enthusiastically about the benefits of gaining a friend. Many intentional relationships deepened over several years into mutually beneficial friendships. Most clients became more outgoing, sociable and active, with increased self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence. Volunteers who had experienced mental illness themselves provided unique added benefits to the relationship. Drawbacks were minimal and financial and other costs to volunteers were low. Conclusions: Intentional friendships can be a potent yet cost-effective way to help people with SMI develop social skills, expand their social networks, and improve their quality of life. However, because relationships take several years to develop, quantitative evaluations using short follow-up periods may underestimate programme effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian H. Mccorkle & Erin C. Dunn & Yu Mui Wan & Cheryl Gagne, 2009. "Compeer Friends: a Qualitative Study of a Volunteer Friendship Programme for People with Serious Mental Illness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(4), pages 291-305, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:55:y:2009:i:4:p:291-305
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764008097090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anita Bengtsson-Tops & Lars Hansson, 2001. "Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of the Social Network in Schizophrenic Patients Living in the Community. Relationship To Sociodemographic Characteristics and Clinical Factors and Subjective Quali," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 47(3), pages 67-77, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lotte Groth Jensen & Stina Lou & Jørgen Aagaard & Ulla Væggemose, 2017. "Community families: A qualitative study of families who volunteer to support persons with severe mental illness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(1), pages 33-39, February.
    2. Ann Sheridan & Donal O’Keeffe & Barbara Coughlan & Kate Frazer & Johnathan Drennan & Mary Kemple, 2018. "Friendship and money: A qualitative study of service users’ experiences of participating in a supported socialisation programme," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(4), pages 326-334, June.
    3. Mariana Pinto da Costa & Agnes Chevalier & Aida Farreny & Megan Cassidy & Monica Leverton & Sarah Toner & Stefan Priebe, 2019. "How would patients with psychosis like to be in contact with a volunteer: Face-to-face or digitally?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Ulla Væggemose & Stina Lou & Michal Frumer & Nanna Limskov Stærk Christiansen & Jørgen Aagaard & Lisbeth Ørtenblad, 2017. "Community Families: Bridging the gap between mental health services and civil society – A qualitative study from users’ perspective," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(2), pages 132-138, March.
    5. Ann J Sheridan & Jonathan Drennan & Barbara Coughlan & Donal O’Keeffe & Kate Frazer & Mary Kemple & Denise Alexander & Frances Howlin & Anne Fahy & Veronica Kow & Eadbhard O’Callaghan, 2015. "Improving social functioning and reducing social isolation and loneliness among people with enduring mental illness: Report of a randomised controlled trial of supported socialisation," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(3), pages 241-250, May.

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