Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Peer Mentors in Reducing Hospital Use

The current study, through a randomized controlled design, will evaluate the effectiveness
of peer support, as compared to usual care and to an equivalent amount of support offered by
peer case managers and non-peer recovery mentors, in reducing hospital days and readmissions
and in promoting recovery and community inclusion among adults with mental illnesses with
histories of multiple hospitalizations. The current study evaluates the cost-effectiveness
of adding peer support to the array of services available to persons with serious mental
illnesses who have histories of multiple hospitalizations and will test a theoretical model
of the active ingredients of peer support, focusing specifically on the roles of 1)
instillation of hope through positive self-disclosure; 2) role modeling of self-care and
exploring new ways of using experiential knowledge; and 3) a trusting relationship
characterized by acceptance, understanding, and empathy with conditional regard.